HIROSHIMA: Plaintiffs voiced regret Wednesday over the government’s appeal against a ruling that recognized additional victims of radioactive “black rain” that fell soon after the 1945 US atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

“I’m very angry about the health ministry’s appeal against the ruling,” Masaaki Takano, the 82-year-old head of the plaintiff group, told a press conference in the western Japanese city.

The central government and the Hiroshima prefectural and city governments have appealed the ruling by Hiroshima District Court ordering local authorities to issue certificates for hibakusha atomic bomb survivors to the plaintiffs.

“Life has limits. Extending the lawsuit means we’ll see more deaths before the suit ends,” Takano said, expressing concerns over the advanced age of the plaintiffs.

“We’ll advance toward victory,” he also said.

“It’s really regrettable that the health ministry appealed the ruling and the Hiroshima mayor and governor went along with it,” said Kazumi Makino, the 76-year-old joint leader of a group supporting the black rain litigation. He has supported for over 40 years those exposed to the contaminated rain.

JIJI Press