6　沖縄の被爆者問題の再考察　現代における証言の意味

抄録

Okinawa Hibakushas are atomic bomb survivors who returned to Okinawa after experiencing the bombing either in Hiroshima or Nagasaki. There were 348 people recorded as Okinawa Hibakusha in 1979, and the number decreased to 132 by the end of March 2019.

Okinawa Hibakushas have a different history from that of Hibakushas in the mainland of Japan. Okinawa Hibakushas had been neglected by the Japanese Government for approximately 20 years. Hiroaki Fukuchi published a book titled “A-bomb Survivors in Okinawa” in 1981. Almost no studies have been completed on Okinawa Hibakushas since Fukuchiʼs publication, thus requiring more research. The objective of this article is to reorganize the testimonies from interviews with Okinawa Hibakushas and reconsider the value of those testimonies.

Main findings from the interviews with three Okinawa Hibakushas were summarized into three points. First, they criticized not only the atomic bombing but also war and military conflict as a broader concept of violence. Second, the lawsuit established by Okinawa Hibakushas played a significant role in pioneering the activities by Hibakushas living outside of Japan. Extraordinarily, those who were under the U.S. control fought against them when mainland-Hibakushas were still struggling to obtain rights. Finally, inheritance of atomic bombing experiences is an urgent matter; its importance is emphasized in Okinawa and the mainland. Discourse on atomic bombing experiences in Okinawa used to be difficult, as their primary focus was on the Battle of Okinawa. Moreover, people of Okinawa have been segregated from their mainland counterparts. Therefore, bringing their voices to the mainland will further develop the discussion over Okinawa Hibakushas.