Nihon Hidankyo, an organization representing hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its relentless advocacy toward achieving a nuclear-free world. The group was recognized for its efforts in highlighting the horrors of nuclear warfare through firsthand testimonies from hibakusha.
Nihon Hidankyo regularly visits LaGuardia Community College as part of their participation in the UN’s Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons meetings. Prof. Kyoko Toyama, a Japan Studies faculty member, coordinated opportunities for LaGuardia students to hear the firsthand testimonies of hibakusha and learn about the atrocities of nuclear weapons. Most recently, Mr. Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chairperson of Nihon Hidankyo, visited LaGuardia on November 30, 2023, and shared his experience of the A-bomb and its after-effects with over 70 LaGuardia students.
