October 8, 2005
JAPAN: Over 1,000 Aged War Victims May Get Benefits
TOKYO (The Japan Times), October 8, 2005:
The government will not appeal last week's Fukuoka High Court decision upholding a lower court ruling that hibakusha living abroad do not have to come to Japan to apply for health-care benefits, the health minister said Friday.
"There is a need to give consideration to the aging hibakusha," Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hidehisa Otsuji told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
The health ministry will revise the Atomic Bomb Survivors' Support Law and arrange with the Foreign Ministry for survivors to apply for the benefits at Japanese embassies and consulates starting in November. The ministry has estimated that more than 1,000 survivors have been unable to receive benefits because they could not come to Japan.
"Preparations are under way to enable the use of diplomatic missions" for atomic-bomb survivors to file applications for health-care benefits, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura told reporters separately.
Otsuji urged the Nagasaki Municipal Government not to appeal the court decision, citing the advancing ages of the survivors and the planned program for overseas application.
Subsequently, the city opted not to appeal.
Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito said in a news conference the city was "extremely delighted with the country's decision."
Local governments are responsible for health-care benefits and covering funeral expenses.
The high court's ruling will become official Tuesday, when the deadline for filing the appeal expires.
The high court's decision against Nagasaki was the first by an appellate court in a case over benefits for hibakusha living overseas. The municipal government had appealed the lower court ruling.
