Nihon Hidankyo/ Nobel Peace Prize 2024/ nuclear disarmament/ Hiroshima/ Nagasaki/ anti-nuclear activism/ Newslooks/ STOCKHOLM/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Japan’s Nihon Hidankyo for its decades-long fight against nuclear weapons. As global nuclear threats rise, the Nobel Committee recognized the survivors’ organization for turning tragedy into advocacy, preserving the memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to promote peace.
Nobel Peace Prize Honors Nihon Hidankyo’s Advocacy: Quick Looks
- Award for Advocacy: Nihon Hidankyo, a group of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors, wins Nobel for anti-nuclear efforts.
- Global Tensions: Rising nuclear threats from Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine underscore the award’s urgency.
- Powerful Symbolism: The award honors the suffering of atomic bomb survivors while sending a peace message worldwide.
- Historical Context: Similar anti-nuclear organizations have received Nobel recognition in past years, including ICAN in 2017.
Japanese Anti-Nuclear Group Nihon Hidankyo Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Deep Look
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to Japan’s Nihon Hidankyo, an organization led by survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This prize, which honors the group’s commitment to a nuclear-free world, comes amid heightened global concerns about nuclear threats as geopolitical tensions rise.
Announcing the award, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, highlighted the intensifying threats to global nuclear norms. Frydnes explained that the prize seeks to honor survivors who “despite physical suffering and painful memories, have chosen to use their costly experience to cultivate hope and engagement for peace.” The award follows a year of mounting concerns over nuclear risks, with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent shift in nuclear policy seen as lowering the threshold for possible nuclear engagement, particularly as the Ukraine conflict persists.
Tomoyuki Mimaki, chairperson of Hidankyo’s Hiroshima branch, celebrated the news, calling it “unbelievable” and an honor for all survivors. For decades, Nihon Hidankyo has advocated against the use of nuclear weapons, inspired by the stories of those who lived through the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, which collectively killed hundreds of thousands. Survivors, known as hibakusha, have carried the emotional and physical scars of the bombings, transforming their experiences into a movement to ban nuclear weapons and raise awareness about their catastrophic impact.
This Nobel Prize adds to a legacy of peace awards for anti-nuclear activism. In 2017, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) won the Nobel Peace Prize, and in 1995, Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs were honored for their commitment to reducing nuclear arms in international politics.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded to the award on social media, emphasizing that the “spectre of Hiroshima and Nagasaki still looms over humanity.” She underscored the urgency of Hidankyo’s mission, noting that “we have a duty to remember—and an even greater duty to protect future generations from the horrors of nuclear war.”
This year’s prize was awarded during a time of numerous ongoing conflicts. In the Middle East, violence has surged over the past year, leading to high civilian casualties and escalating conflicts involving Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah. The Nobel Committee’s decision to honor an anti-nuclear group highlights its commitment to promoting peace even as conflict spreads.
Despite the award’s long history, there has been some speculation this year that the committee might opt not to issue a prize due to the global climate of instability. Since its inception in 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize has been withheld 19 times, including during both world wars. The most recent instance of no prize being awarded occurred in 1972.
While the award traditionally celebrates peace efforts, recent years have underscored the importance of activism against nuclear arms, especially with rising tensions in Ukraine. As Russia’s invasion heads toward a third winter, both Ukrainian and Russian losses have mounted. U.N. records confirm more than 11,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine, though this number does not include thousands believed killed during the Russian capture of Mariupol or those lost in other occupied areas.
The Nobel prizes come with a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (about $1 million). Alfred Nobel’s will specifically stipulated that the peace prize be decided by the Norwegian Nobel Committee and awarded in Oslo, while other prizes are awarded in Stockholm. This year’s Nobel announcements will conclude Monday with the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences, established in memory of Alfred Nobel.
Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Peace Prize signals a continued global commitment to anti-nuclear efforts, especially as political leaders like Putin challenge the longstanding taboo against nuclear weapon use. As threats of nuclear engagement persist, the committee’s choice to honor Japan’s hibakusha serves as both a remembrance of past horrors and a warning against future conflicts.
