SHIZUOKA, Japan (Kyodo) — Protesters called for the elimination of nuclear weapons at a rally on Friday, the 59^th anniversary of the exposure of a Japanese tuna fishing boat to radiation from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific in 1954.

Around 1,700 people attended the rally in Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, the home port of the trawler Fukuryu Maru No. 5, according to organizers.

Marshall Islands Senator Kenneth Kedi told the rally that former residents are not able to return to Rongelap Island, part of which was contaminated by fallout from the test.

“The people of the Marshall Islands subsidized the nuclear war or the nuclear race without land, health, life and future,” Kedi said.

Matashichi Oishi, 79, a former crew member of the fishing boat, shared his experience and said, “I don’t know how well I can explain, but I’ll continue to talk about what happened.”

The Fukuryu Maru was fishing around 160 kilometers east of Bikini Atoll when the United States tested the bomb. A radio operator on the boat died half a year after the test, which triggered

Kyodo News, March 2, 2013
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Former crew member of ship exposed to radiation speaks against nukes

YAIZU, Shizuoka — A former crew member of a ship exposed to radiation by a nuclear test spoke out against nuclear energy at a gathering here on March 1, adding his criticism of the government.

Matashichi Oishi, 79, was a crew member on the fishing ship “Dai-go (No. 5) Fukuryu Maru,” which was affected by radiation from a United States hydrogen bomb test at the Bikini Atoll 60 years ago. The March 1 gathering was held to remember the events of that day.

Oishi spoke with some lingering effects from a cerebral hemorrhage that occurred in April last year. In his speech, he mentioned the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, and said, “We must be vigilant. As a person exposed to radiation, I want to pass on how frightening nuclear energy is.”

“The government made the nuclear plants, and after the nuclear disaster repeatedly said there was nothing to worry about. We ourselves must study more,” he added.

Mainichi Shimbun, March 2, 2013
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