Survivor's Plea: Nobel Laureate Urges End to Nuclear Threats

In an impassioned call for global peace, Terumi Tanaka, a 92-year-old survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease making nuclear threats. Speaking at a press conference in Oslo, Norway, Tanaka represented Nihon Hidankyo, an organization of atomic bomb survivors that was awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for its relentless campaign against nuclear weapons.  

A Survivor’s Perspective  

Tanaka, who was just 13 years old when the atomic bomb devastated Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, vividly recalls the horrors of that day. Though he escaped severe injuries, he lost five family members and witnessed unimaginable suffering—images of burned bodies and destruction that remain etched in his memory.  

Now, as a representative of Nihon Hidankyo, Tanaka carries the weight of a vital message: nuclear weapons and humanity cannot coexist. At the press conference, he expressed concern that Putin’s repeated nuclear threats demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the catastrophic consequences such weapons bring.  

“Our message to President Putin is clear: nuclear weapons must never be used,” Tanaka said through a translator. “I don’t think he has even thought about or understood this. Changing his perspective is crucial for global peace.”  

A Global Crisis  

The urgency of Tanaka’s plea comes as the international community faces renewed threats of nuclear escalation. The Norwegian Nobel Committee highlighted this troubling trend when awarding the prize, noting that instead of pursuing disarmament, nuclear-armed nations are modernizing their arsenals, and others are moving toward acquiring such weapons. Russia’s threats amid its war in Ukraine were cited as a stark reminder of the fragile taboo against nuclear weapon use.  

Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Nobel Committee, emphasized the timeliness of the award: “The taboo against the use of nuclear weapons is under pressure.”  

The Legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki  

The U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 resulted in the deaths of approximately 210,000 people, with countless others suffering long-term effects. Survivors, or *hibakusha*, have dedicated their lives to advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons.  

Nihon Hidankyo, founded by these survivors, has tirelessly campaigned to ensure the world remembers the devastating impact of nuclear weapons. Tanaka noted that the group’s aging members feel a profound sense of responsibility to bear witness, sharing their experiences in hopes of preventing future tragedies.  

“We are old now,” Tanaka said, “but we carry a heavy sense of duty to remind the world of the destructiveness of nuclear weapons.”  

 A Message of Peace  

The Nobel Peace Prize also resonated deeply in Japan, where Empress Masako called the recognition a “key event” of the year. In a statement, she underscored the importance of mutual understanding and global collaboration in building a peaceful world.  

As Tanaka prepares to deliver a lecture on behalf of Nihon Hidankyo during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, his words carry a universal appeal: a call for humanity to rise above divisions and work together for a future free from the shadow of nuclear weapons.  

“Peace is not a given,” Tanaka reminds us. “It is something we must actively strive for—and protect.”  

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