Japan Suga Cabinet Withdraws Appeal in Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Lawsuit... Victims' Side Victory Confirmed

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Japanese government has decided to forgo an appeal in the so-called "Black Rain" lawsuit, which concerns distant victims affected by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during the final stages of the Pacific War, confirming the plaintiffs' victory. It is reported that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga directly instructed government ministries to abandon the appeal.

According to local Japanese media such as NHK on the 26th, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that they have decided not to appeal the Hiroshima High Court's ruling related to the second trial of the Black Rain lawsuit. This decision is said to have been made following Prime Minister Suga's directive. At a press conference held at the Prime Minister's Office that day, Suga explained the reason for abandoning the appeal, saying, "Many of the plaintiffs are elderly and some are suffering from illnesses," and "I thought prompt relief should be provided."

Accordingly, the legal dispute, which had been extended to the second trial due to the government's appeal against the first trial ruling on August 1 last year during former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration, has ended with the plaintiffs' victory in the second trial. The Japanese government stated that health handbooks for atomic bomb survivors will be immediately issued to all plaintiffs. The government's appeal under former Prime Minister Abe had previously sparked strong criticism not only from local residents but also within Japan.

Earlier, on the 14th, the Hiroshima High Court accepted the plaintiffs' claims and dismissed the government's appeal in the appeal trial concerning the cancellation of the refusal to issue health handbooks for 84 people who were exposed to the atomic bomb while outside the government-designated relief areas during the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing, filed against Hiroshima Prefecture and Hiroshima City.

The second trial court maintained the first trial's judgment that the plaintiffs qualify as relief-targeted atomic bomb victims, stating that the criteria for recognizing victims under the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Act "are sufficiently met by proving that health damage caused by radiation cannot be denied."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.