The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded on Friday to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese group of atomic bomb survivors advocating for a world without nuclear weapons. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised the organization for its relentless efforts and the powerful testimonies of its members—survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings—who have dedicated their lives to making sure nuclear weapons are never used again.
Back in 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on these two Japanese cities, killing around 120,000 people in the first and only wartime use of such devastating weapons. In the decades that followed, nuclear fears surged during the Cold War. Today, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East, nuclear threats have resurfaced, prompting global concern.
The committee noted the alarming trends: nuclear powers are expanding their arsenals, new nations are potentially seeking nuclear weapons, and threats of nuclear action are becoming more common. “At this moment in human history, it is worth reminding ourselves what nuclear weapons are: the most destructive weapons the world has ever seen,” the committee stated.
In Tokyo, Nihon Hidankyo’s chairman, Toshiyuki Mimaki, spoke emotionally about seeing children suffering in Gaza, comparing their plight to that of Japanese civilians during the bombings. “The images overlap,” he said. He emphasized that, while no nuclear weapon has been used in conflict for nearly 80 years, the suffering inflicted by the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki remains vivid in the memories of survivors, who are determined to prevent such horrors from happening again.
The Nobel Committee highlighted how the group’s personal testimonies, known collectively as Hibakusha, offer an essential human perspective on the unimaginable devastation of nuclear weapons. These stories have become powerful educational tools that convey the indescribable pain and suffering caused by these bombs.
Today’s nuclear weapons are far deadlier than the bombs dropped in 1945, with the potential to kill millions and inflict catastrophic damage on the climate. As global tensions rise, the long-standing taboo against using nuclear weapons is under threat. Russian President Vladimir Putin has openly warned of possible nuclear action in the context of the Ukraine conflict, while North Korea continues to expand its arsenal. Additionally, escalating tensions involving nuclear-capable nations like India, Pakistan, and Israel only add to the anxiety.
This year’s Peace Prize comes amid a world with more active conflicts than any time since World War II. Although many anticipated the award might go to organizations directly involved in current conflicts, Nihon Hidankyo’s recognition sends a strong message about the continuing importance of nuclear disarmament.
A Nobel Peace Prize does not guarantee a recipient’s goals will be achieved. Recent winners include Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi, who remains in prison, and human rights groups in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, as the war in Ukraine continues. But Nihon Hidankyo’s mission is clear: to remind the world of the unimaginable horrors of nuclear weapons and to advocate for a future free from the threat of nuclear war.