“核兵器かくへいき 変かわらないか増ふえる”回答かいとうが半数はんすう近ちかくに NHK世論せろん調査ちょうさ

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, and in a public opinion poll conducted by NHK, when asked what they think will happen to the nuclear weapons that currently exist, nearly half of the respondents answered that the situation will remain the same or that the number will actually increase.

Experts point out that we are at a major crossroads regarding how to take concrete action toward the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

We cant make a simple comparison here either, but in this survey, nearly half of the respondents answered that the amount would either stay the same or even increase.

Regarding these results, Professor Noriyuki Kawano of Hiroshima University Graduate School said, The ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons, which is strongly desired by the atomic-bombed areas, is clear and ideal, but in reality, that is not the case given the tense international situation.

Are we going to simply accept that, or will we start taking concrete actions toward our goal? We are standing at a major crossroads, and this is a great trial for the atomic-bombed area, he pointed out.

Mr. Morishita was exposed to the atomic bombing at the age of 14, suffered severe burns, and lost his mother.

After the war, while working on peace education as a teacher, he also conducted repeated surveys on high school students’ awareness regarding the atomic bombing from the 1950s, accumulating testimony materials, and continued to give accounts of his experience as an atomic bomb survivor both in Japan and abroad.

This year, when Mr. Morishita was asked by the Atomic Bomb Museum for his opinion on future exhibitions, he spoke about his own experience at the moment of the bombing, saying, It felt as if I had been thrown into a giant blast furnace.

On top of that, even though we keep repeating the testimonies of atomic bomb survivors, there is still no clear path toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. It happened 80 years ago, but the situation hasnt changed, and its become even more serious.

80 years later, the world is still doing foolish things.

I feel like I dont know what to do, he expressed his sense of crisis.

Mr. Morishita, who is 94 years old, has been giving lectures at his alma mater, Hiroshima University, to share his experience as an atomic bomb survivor with students, but considering his health, he decided to give his last lecture last month.

Mr. Morishita, who finished his last lecture, said, Ive been talking all this time, but I dont know how many more years I have left to live.

But even after 80 years, the situation hasnt changed, so I really have to speak up.

If nuclear weapons are used, this is what will happen to people like us. I dont have much power, and theres little time left, but I want to keep spreading this message.