(20) Why are A-bomb survivors still applying for the Atomic Bomb Survivor Certificate?

Fear of discrimination

Though 62 years have passed since the bombing, applications for the Atomic Bomb Survivor Certificate are still being submitted. To understand why, I spoke with Fumie Miyake, 54, who counsels A-bomb survivors.

In over 20 years working with survivors, Ms. Miyake has helped about 200 people apply for the certificate. She noted that nearly half of these survivors had hesitated to apply due to a fear of discrimination if they were known to be an A-bomb survivor. And this fear of discrimination extended to their children in regard to their marriage prospects.

Survivors filing applications at Hiroshima City Hall (October 15)

Applications for the certificate are accepted by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as all prefectural offices in Japan. The application process involves submitting evidence, such as a Casualty Certificate, and the statements of two witnesses. After the materials are reviewed and an interview is conducted, the applicant's status can be confirmed and a certificate issued.

Many survivors didn't feel the need to apply when they were younger, but as they get older, they have greater concern about their medical expenses. Yet when they seek a certificate to receive financial support for these medical costs, it has become difficult for them to find witnesses.

One survivor, Sango Onishi, 79, searched for people to serve as his witnesses for almost ten years. "When I was young, I was consumed with work. After I grew older, I sought the certificate and I needed witnesses, but the people who could have been my witnesses all seemed to have died." He almost gave up, but last year he discovered a former neighbor who was at the scene with Mr. Onishi at the time of the bombing. As a result, he was fortunately able to obtain the official certificate.

However, even with witnesses, applications are regularly turned down. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, in 2006, 1103 people applied for the certificate throughout Japan and 742 of these applicants were approved, a total of 67.3%. This means that one out of three applicants was turned down.

Shigeru Aratani, Assistant Director of the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department at Hiroshima City Hall, handled 365 applications last year and explains that the reason people are turned down is due to a lack of evidence. In most cases involving recent applications, if survivors do not appear in research conducted by the city or prefectural governments, the presence of witnesses becomes very important. However, "both the applicants and the witnesses are elderly now and their memories have faded so this makes it difficult to accept their statements as valid testimony."

Hideo Kobayashi, 74, was reluctant to apply for many years due to the fear his status as an A-bomb survivor might have a negative impact on his career. When he finally filed an application for the certificate, attaching the testimonies of two witnesses, it was rejected. He claimed he entered the rubble of the bombing on August 7, to search for his mother, but this date was different on his mother's application when she applied for the certificate.

Administratively, it seems understandable that all applications will not be approved. However, since it is getting increasingly difficult to obtain objective evidence such as witness statements, perhaps the system should become more flexible. For instance, the applicant's memories could be examined in more detail and, if judged credible, they would be considered eligible. The current situation, which turns down elderly survivors simply because they didn't apply for the certificate earlier, leaving them without needed support, is very distressing. (Staff writer, Toshiko Bajo)