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Who were the hibakusha?

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Atomic bombing of Hiroshima — atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki A gigantic mushroom cloud rising above Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, after a U.S. aircraft dropped an atomic bomb on the city, immediately killing more than 70,000 people.

The term hibakusha is a Japanese word meaning "bomb-affected people," referring to the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.12

These individuals endured the immediate effects of the explosions—including intense heat, blast injuries, and radiation exposure—as well as the long-term health consequences of the attacks. In recognition of their suffering, the Japanese government promised hibakusha free medical care for life.1

Many survivors became central figures in the global movement to abolish nuclear weapons. In 1956, they founded Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization dedicated to sharing firsthand accounts of the horrors of nuclear warfare to ensure such weapons are never used again. In 2024, the organization was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for its vital role in demonstrating the moral necessity of a world free from nuclear arms. Additionally, the experiences of more than 120,000 hibakusha have provided essential data for medical research into the long-term effects of radiation exposure.21