In a lawsuit in which Nagasaki A-bomb survivors who were exposed to the atomic bomb outside the government-designated A-bombed areas sought certification as hibakusha, the Nagasaki District Court ruled on September 9 that some of the plaintiffs should be issued certificates.

The plaintiffs were seeking recognition of 44 A-bomb survivors and others who were exposed to the atomic bomb outside the A-bombed area as hibakusha: A-bomb survivors.

They claimed that they have suffered health damage through radioactive fallout, including rain and ashes.

The district court ruled that “the fact that so-called ‘black rain’ containing radioactive fallout fell outside the A-bombed area is recognized. 

The court ruled that the 15 plaintiffs who were exposed to the atomic bomb in the area were “hibakusha” as defined by law, and ordered the city and prefecture of Nagasaki to issue them with hibakusha health certificates.

But the court dismissed the remaining plaintiffs' lawsuits.

S/ Iwanaga Chiyoko, (88), leader of the plaintiffs:

To be honest, I am disappointed. I don't understand the rationale at all.

S/ Hamada Takeo, (84), plaintiff:

It's shameful. I can't understand why the court made such a decision.

In Hiroshima, where an atomic bomb was first dropped, the Hiroshima High Court ruled in 2021 that all of the plaintiffs who were exposed to the “black rain” are A-bomb survivors.