International
Nihon Hidankyo leader draws parallel between Gaza and WWII Japan after Nobel Peace Prize win
Survivors of the atomic bombings of Japan, represented by Nihon Hidankyo, have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their relentless campaign to eradicate nuclear weapons. Expressing disbelief at winning the prize, Toshiyuki Mimaki remarked, “In Gaza, bleeding children are being held. It’s like Japan 80 years ago.”
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organisations, known as Nihon Hidankyo, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its decades-long effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
The honour comes just before the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and amidst a renewed global focus on the potential threat posed by nuclear arms.
The Nobel committee commended Nihon Hidankyo for raising global awareness of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons.
Through personal testimonies of hibakusha—survivors of the atomic bombings in August 1945—the group has played a key role in fostering global opposition to the use and proliferation of nuclear arms. The committee highlighted that the testimonies of these survivors have made the incomprehensible suffering caused by nuclear weapons more tangible to the world.
“The hibakusha help us to describe the indescribable, to think the unthinkable, and to somehow grasp the incomprehensible pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons,” said the Nobel committee.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, the 81-year-old co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, expressed deep gratitude for the prize, seeing it as a powerful boost to the organisation’s ongoing mission.
“It would be a great force to appeal to the world that the abolition of nuclear weapons can be achieved,” Mimaki stated. He stressed the necessity of eliminating nuclear weapons entirely, rejecting the argument that their existence ensures peace.
While Nihon Hidankyo continues to advocate for a nuclear-free world, the Nobel committee warned that the international taboo against nuclear weapons, in place since the end of World War II, is under strain.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has heightened concerns, with Russian President Vladimir Putin refusing to rule out the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Simultaneously, North Korea continues to develop its nuclear arsenal, raising global alarms.
Japan’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, welcomed the award, calling it “extremely meaningful” for the country and the global anti-nuclear movement. However, Japan’s dependency on the US nuclear umbrella, alongside its refusal to sign a 2021 treaty banning nuclear weapons, may lead some to see the prize as a subtle critique of its current policies.
Mimaki also drew a powerful parallel between the suffering of Japanese children in 1945 and the current situation for children in Gaza. He expressed disbelief at winning the prize, saying, “I thought the prize would go to those working hard in Gaza,” and added: “In Gaza, bleeding children are being held [by their parents]. It’s like Japan 80 years ago.”
His emotional comparison to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has sparked debate, with Israel’s ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen, condemning the statement as “outrageous and baseless.”
Cohen asserted that such comparisons distort history and dishonour victims of the ongoing conflict with Hamas, a militant group designated as a terrorist organisation by Israel and many Western countries.
Cohen, while congratulating Nihon Hidankyo on winning the Nobel Peace Prize, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns.
He criticised the comparison drawn by Mimaki, saying, “Gaza is ruled by Hamas, a murderous terrorist organisation committing a double war crime: targeting Israeli civilians, including women and children, while using its own people as human shields.”
He added that such comparisons “distort history and dishonour the victims” of the October 2023 Hamas attacks, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israeli civilians.
Despite the criticism, Mimaki’s remarks have focused global attention on the broader humanitarian impacts of war, particularly on children and civilians, a topic that resonates with Nihon Hidankyo’s core message against the destructive capacity of nuclear arms.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to escalate, with Palestinian health authorities reporting a death toll of over 42,000 since Israeli airstrikes began, the majority of the victims being civilians, including women and children.
The destruction of infrastructure, homes, and essential services in Gaza has drawn widespread international concern amid an ongoing case in the International Court of Justice, in which South Africa has accused Israel of genocide, stating that the claim is plausible.
Mimaki’s remarks, however, stand within a broader context of his anti-war advocacy. Speaking at the press conference after the award was announced, he reiterated the need for global disarmament and a focus on humanitarian concerns.
“Nuclear weapons should absolutely be abolished,” he said. “The idea that they bring peace is a fallacy. They can be used by terrorists, and if that happens, it will not end there.”
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, with victims suffering from radiation sickness, burns, and other injuries long after the initial blasts.
Today, the official death toll stands at 344,306 in Hiroshima and 198,785 in Nagasaki, according to Japan’s health ministry. Survivors, many of whom are now elderly, have been dedicated to ensuring that the horrors of nuclear warfare are never repeated.
Despite the passage of nearly 80 years, the hibakusha continue to advocate against the possession and use of nuclear weapons.
As the number of survivors dwindles, their legacy is carried forward by organisations like Nihon Hidankyo, which is committed to preserving their message for future generations.
“One day, the hibakusha will no longer be among us as witnesses to history,” the Nobel committee remarked. “But with a strong culture of remembrance, new generations are continuing their mission.”
