80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War
Speakers
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Toru YamaguchiCouncilor, the Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors’ Council, and Member, Second-generation Hibakusha AssociationToru Yamaguchi
Counsellor
Councilor, the Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors’ Council, and Member, Second-generation Hibakusha Association
Toru Yamaguchi was born on July 3, 1960, as second generation Hibakusha of Nagasaki. From April 1984 to March 2024, he worked for the educational division in Nagasaki Prefectural Government. At the time of retirement, he served as chief administrative officer at Nagasaki Prefectural Isahaya Special Needs School. While working, he engaged in citizen peace movements and teachers’ union activities, serving as secretary general of the Nagasaki Prefectural High School teachers and staff union, among other roles. He now focuses on researching and compiling the history and testimonies of atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki, including family members and damages caused by radiation, while aiming to connect this work to activities contributing to anti-war and peace efforts. Currently he serves as Councilor for the Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors’ Council and as a member of second-generation Hibakusha association.
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Shigemitsu TanakaCo-Chairperson, Nihon Hidankyo, and President, Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors CouncilShigemitsu Tanaka
Counsellor
Co-Chairperson, Nihon Hidankyo, and President, Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors Council
Shigemitsu Tanaka was born in 1940. At age 4, he experienced Nagasaki atomic bombing, located some 6 km from the blast center with 5 family members. On the day, he was playing with younger brother and his grandfather under a persimmon tree in the front yard. He got so scared and ran to his mother, screaming “The frontal mountain was bombed!” All windowpanes of the house were broken into fragments and all sliding doors blown away. Fortunately, no one was injured, but three days after the bombing, his mother went to the hypocenter to check on an acquaintance's safety. After that, she suffered liver and thyroid disorders, leading to repeated hospitalizations and died of liver cancer. After graduating from high school, Tanaka worked at the Japanese National Railways (now JR) and participated in the peace movement. Since retirement, he has contributed to the Hibakusha movement for the abolition of nuclear weapons and for state compensation for the damage caused by the bombings. After 2018, he is working as a Co-Chairperson of Nihon Hidankyo and as President of Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors Council. As Hibakusha he has been working toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, together with many citizens.