Hibakusha: A-bomb Survivor Battles with Illness to Continue Passing on his Story

Details the ongoing medical treatment being received by Hirose Masahito, survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.  The story details his ongoing push to continue to tell the story of the nuclear bombings, even from his hospital bed.

November 17, 2015 – The Mainichi

http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20151117/p2a/00m/0na/010000c

Oita Man Continues Search for Proof of Family Killed in Hiroshima A-bombing

Article describes quest of Taiji Manda, who was with his three siblings at the time of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, all of whom later died as a result of injuries from the atomic bombing.  His parents’ whereabouts were unknown after the bombing so he was orphaned and taken in by relatives.  He has been impacted by bowel and two other forms of cancer.

August 7, 2015 – The Mainichi

http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20150807/p2a/00m/0na/011000c

1945 – Witnessing the A-Bomb, but Forbidden to File

Article describes the experience of William Laurence, writer for the New York Times, who was a firsthand witness to the nuclear testing on July 16, 1945 at Alamogordo, New Mexico and to the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.  Article describes the nature of military censorship of reporting of the nuclear bombs, the true nature of which, was carefully concealed.  For example, his article on Nagasaki was not reported until a month later.

August 6, 2015 – The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/08/06/1945-witnessing-the-a-bomb-but-forbidden-to-file/

ABCC: Mechanical Classification of A-Bomb Disease Still Causes Pain for Overlooked Victims (Pt. 3)

Article describes the case of Yoshie Minaishi, a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima who is still pushing for recognition as a suffering from the effects of radiation sickness.  Requirements for recognition by the government were set based on standards of radiation exposure set by the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC) and its successor organization, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF).  Even Hiroshi Hasai, who helped develop the exposure dose calculation formula, suggests skepticism in applying it as a measure for governmental recognition of radiation sickness recognition, suggesting that the stories of those affected should be heard.

August 3, 2015 – The Mainichi

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/features/news/20150803p2a00m0na013000c.html

As A-Bomb Survivors Age, Japanese Pass Storytelling to Young

Describes efforts by Shigeyuki Katsura and Terumi Tanaka of the Tokyo-based Japan Confederation of A and H Bomb Sufferers’ Organizations to pass down their stories as hibakusha to residents of Kunitachi.  Efforts to train the next generation of educators are stressed considering the age of remaining survivors.

August 2, 2015 – AP News/Yahoo

http://news.yahoo.com/bomb-survivors-age-japanese-pass-storytelling-young-064712563.html

ABCC: A-Bomb Survivors Regret Experiences in U.S. Testing of Radiation Effects after WWII (Pt. 2)

Describes the experiences of Yukio Yoshioka, a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima, and his time as a research subject at the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC).  Article also references William Schull, who was a doctor with the ABCC and how research subjects would be given soap and lunch for their participation, but the research results were not shared with the patients and community and were taken to the U.S. to be used in preparation for nuclear war.  Residents like Sachiko Sakamaki, who turned the body of her father over to the ABCC, expressed regret in having cooperated with the ABCC.  Records of the ABCC were only returned to Japan in 1973.

August 1, 2015 – The Mainichi

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/features/news/20150801p2a00m0na013000c.html

Hibakusha: Life of Late Doctor Hiroshi Maruya Etched Deeply in Poetry

Describes the recent passing of Hiroshi Maruya, who had survived the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, and his recent publication of a book of poems which detailed his perspectives on a number of political issues, including Korean hibakusha, student protests in the 1960s in Japan, and depleted uranium weapons.

August 1, 2015 – The Mainichi

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/features/news/20150801p2a00m0na021000c.html

ABCC: Suffering Patients, Conflicted Doctors, Secret Treatments (Pt. 1)

Describes the history of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC) that was set up after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which was a medical research project, and not a place to actually treat hibakusha, much to many patients disappointment and confusion.  Article describes the reactions of Dr. James Yamazaki, who was stationed at the Nagasaki ABCC, who administered treatment to patients, despite it not being in the mission of the ABCC.  The ABCC was funded by the U.S. but did not incorporate treatment as a means in which to avoid looking like it had responsibility for the U.S. having dropped the atomic bombs.

July 31, 2015 – The Mainichi

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/features/news/20150731p2a00m0na016000c.html

Hibakusha: Despite Health Issues, 90-year-old A-Bomb Survivor Continues to Raise Voice

Article describes the story of Sunao Tsuboi, chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, and his experiences surviving the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, his lifetime of endurance in the face of medical problems related to his exposure to nuclear radiation, and his experiences of discrimination due to being a hibakusha.  Though his health precluded his ability to attend the recent NPT conference in New York, he continues to speak out against nuclear weapons.

July 31, 2015 – The Mainichi

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/features/news/20150731p2a00m0na011000c.html

Hibakusha Offspring Seek Larger National Study to Address Their Health Concerns

Article describes a report of the Tokyo Federation of A-Bomb Sufferers Organizations describing how 60% of second generation hibakusha have concerns over the impacts of nuclear radiation exposure on their health.  To this date, while there has been a survey on lifestyle-related diseases amongst the second generation of hibakusha descendants, this study did not cover cancer or mental conditions.

July 30, 2015 – The Japan Times

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/07/30/national/science-health/hibakusha-offspring-seek-greater-national-study-address-health-concerns/#.VcFFhUnbLIW