Hiroshima Justice after the A-bomb “black rain” A case trial that appealed for A-bomb survivor Today Judgment July 29, 4:52
Immediately after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, residents were accused of suffering health hazards from being exposed to so-called "black rain" containing radioactive materials, and in a lawsuit appealing to the city of Hiroshima, etc., that they should be admitted to be A-bomb victims by law. A judgment will be handed down on the 29th. It is the first time in a nationwide lawsuit to admit that a survivor has been admitted over the "black rain" 75 years ago, and attention will be paid to what kind of judgment will be shown.
Residents aged 75 to 96, who live in the current city of Saiki and Akiota in Hiroshima City, and their bereaved families in total 84 are exposed to so-called "black rain" immediately after the atomic bomb was dropped, causing health damage. Five years ago, he appealed to Hiroshima City and prefectures to recognize the atomic bomb survivors and issue the A-bomb survivor health certificate.
In previous trials, it was argued that one of the definitions of A-bomb survivors was "the situation was affected by radiation caused by the atomic bomb," and residents were told that "the effects of radiation specified by the government were I'm suffering from an undeniable disease such as cancer, and the health hazard of black rain is clear."
On the other hand, Hiroshima City and the prefecture demanded that they dismiss the complaint, saying, "There is no concrete reason to say that even if we were exposed to black rain, we could have reasonably recognized the health damage."
The decision will be handed down in the Hiroshima District Court on the afternoon of 29th.
It is the first time in a nationwide lawsuit to admit that a survivor has been admitted over the "black rain" 75 years ago, and attention will be paid to what kind of judgment will be shown.
Two big issues in court
There were two major issues in this trial.
The first point is whether or not it can be said that one of the definitions of the A-bomb survivors stipulated in the A-bomb Survivorship Law was "the circumstances were affected by radiation from the atomic bomb."
Residents argue that the effects of radiation on the body are not fully understood, and the law should be widely interpreted, and it should be interpreted that "the influence of radiation was undeniable." did.
On top of that, the residents say, "Since we have developed cancer such as illness that the effects of radiation specified by the government cannot be ruled out, the health damage caused by black rain is clear."
On the other hand, in Hiroshima City and prefectures, the area of the atomic bombing that is stipulated by law is basically about 5 km from the hypocenter, but the residents are at the closest point of 8.8 km, and the effect of radiation is not expected. Insisted that it was hard to think.
On top of that, he said, "There is no concrete reason to say that even if the people were exposed to black rain, in light of current scientific views, they were reasonably exposed to health hazards." ..
The second point is whether or not the same level of support as the A-bomb survivors is available even if the residents are not recognized as the A-bomb survivors.
People who were in the area of the support area called "special area for health checkup" designated by the government were supposed to receive free health checkups according to the A-bomb victims, and there was a dispute over whether the range was appropriate.
In 1976, the country designated a range of approximately 19 kilometers north-south and 11 kilometers east-west from the hypocenter as a "special area for health examinations."
When a disease such as cancer designated by the government develops, the A-bomb survivor's health handbook will be issued and medical expenses will be paid, but since the residents who complained were outside the coverage area, it was free of charge. You cannot receive the same kind of support as the A-bomb victims, such as a medical examination.
This coverage area was designated as a "heavy rain area" where heavy black rain fell, according to a survey conducted by the staff of the Meteorological Observatory at the time in 1945, immediately after the atomic bombing, but the residents were "It is unreasonable to limit the coverage area, not only to the "heavy rain areas" but also to a wider extent," he said.
On the other hand, Hiroshima City and the prefecture said, "There is no scientific opinion that high concentrations of radioactive materials have fallen outside the "heavy rain area" where there is black rain, and there is no irrational point in the designation of the range of coverage areas." Insisted.
What is "black rain"?
The so-called "black rain" is the rain that was mixed with radioactive materials and soot from a fire immediately after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and was performed by the staff of the meteorological observatory at that time in 1945, immediately after the atomic bomb was dropped. As a result of the investigation, it is said that it has fallen approximately 29 kilometers north and south and 15 kilometers east and west from the hypocenter.
Of these, the area of approximately 19 kilometers north-south and 11 kilometers east-west from the hypocenter is classified as a "heavy rain area" where heavy rainfall has fallen, and the country designated this "heavy rain area" as a survivor in 1976. We have designated it as a “special area for health checkups” as an area to provide support.
Those who were in this area can get a free medical examination, and if they develop any of 11 kinds of illnesses such as cancer designated by the government, they will be issued the A-bomb Survivor's Health Handbook. Medical expenses will be paid.
On the other hand, the residents who filed a complaint were outside the “special medical checkup area” where they were able to receive the same level of support as the A-bomb victims, but they also reported to the national and local governments that they had suffered health damage from the same black rain. , Conducted an activity to request a fact-finding survey on health damage.
In response, Hiroshima City will form a research group by a professor of Hiroshima University and conduct an investigation, and in 2010, it is assumed that the range of black rain will be about 6 times the coverage area designated by the government. I summarized the results.
Hiroshima city and prefecture requested that the whole area of black rain collected by this survey be designated as the coverage area, but the government said that there is little scientific basis that health damage occurred in 2012, We did not allow the area to expand.
Residents' activities and thoughts on the trial
Some of the residents who filed complaints have been active for more than 40 years, complaining about the health damage caused by "black rain."
Masaaki Takano (82), who serves as the plaintiff's leader in this trial, participated in the resident group council that was formed in 1978 from the beginning, and appealed to the national government and local governments to investigate the actual condition of health damage. ..
Of these, what the country requested is to expand the scope of the national coverage area called "special medical checkup area" designated in 1976.
People who were in the area about 19 kilometers north and south and 11 kilometers east and west from the hypocenter designated as a support area were able to get a free medical examination, and also developed diseases such as cancer designated by the country. In this case, the A-Bomb Survivor's Health Handbook will be issued and medical expenses will be paid.
Meanwhile, 75 years ago, when he was seven years old, Mr. Takano was exposed to black rain in the current Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City, about 20 kilometers northwest of the hypocenter, outside the "special medical checkup area", causing diarrhea and fever. It is said that such symptoms continued.
After that, around 2011, a cataract developed, but since it was not covered by the coverage area, medical expenses were borne by the patient.
Mr. Takano and others continued to request that the coverage area be expanded, but they were not approved and decided to bring a trial five years ago.
This is because we hope that the government will review the target of the coverage area and lead to the expansion of the area by having Hiroshima City and prefectures grant the A-bomb survivor's health handbook and winning the case.
However, due to the aging of plaintiffs, 16 people died during the trial.
Mr. Takano hopes that a judgment will be issued that responds to the thoughts of those who died without being recognized as A-bomb victims while suffering health damage in the "black rain" 75 years ago.
Mr. Takano said, “The purpose of the trial is not only to grant the A-bomb survivor's health certificate, but also to tell the truth, so the court takes this thought seriously and has a good sense. I want you to make a judgment."