During his 2016 visit to Japan, former President Barack Obama embraced Shigeaki Mori, a Hiroshima survivor who was just eight years old at the time of the atomic bombing. On October 11, 2023, the Japan Confederation of A-and-H Bomb Sufferers Organizations was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Mori expressed his hope that this news would raise awareness about the importance of abolishing nuclear weapons.
According to Reuters, next year marks the 80th anniversary of the United States dropping atomic bombs on Japan, which ultimately compelled Japan to surrender in World War II.
The moment between Obama and Mori at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park has become an iconic image from that visit. When contacted by Reuters on October 11, an 80-year-old Mori affirmed that he believes the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the organization will enhance public awareness of nuclear disarmament. He stated, “Yes,” but refrained from providing further comments, mentioning that he’s received numerous requests for interviews.
Last year, Mori recounted to Reuters that he lost consciousness from the blast and awoke to find a woman holding his exposed organs, asking where the nearest hospital was located.
Following the war, Mori dedicated several decades to researching how many people perished on his school’s playing field during the bombing, uncovering that twelve American POWs also lost their lives in the attack.
As the number of atomic bomb survivors dwindles with age, many of them continue to strive to keep the memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki alive—not only to honor history but also to advocate for change.
Hiroshima’s mayor, Kazumi Matsui, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the award recipients. He noted that the members of the organization gathered over 13.7 million signatures in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which is considered a driving force behind the treaty’s enactment. “Given the current global circumstances, such efforts are extremely significant,” he added.
Nagasaki’s mayor, Tomihisa Taue, issued a statement emphasizing, “In light of the current chaotic international climate, I hope this serves as a crucial opportunity for the world to move toward a nuclear-free future.”
