Norway's embassy in Japan has hosted a celebratory party for last year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nihon Hidankyo, which represents survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

About 150 people attended Tuesday's event in Tokyo, including members of Nihon Hidankyo, their supporters and high school students who are continuing a petition drive as "peace messengers" for the abolishment of nuclear weapons.

The state secretary at the Norwegian foreign ministry, Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, described Nihon Hidankyo as an outstanding presence for underscoring the horror of nuclear weapons and opposing their use. He expressed hope that the Nobel Peace Prize win will make the group's voice be heard by more people.

Hagi Arisa, a high school peace messenger, expressed resolve to walk together with the atomic bomb survivors, or hibakusha, on the path toward peace they have opened, and to go even further ahead.

Nihon Hidankyo co-chair Tanaka Terumi said he wants to work with everyone to quickly rid the world of nuclear weapons and create peace without war, in this crucial year that marks 80 years since the atomic bombings.

Tanaka also referred to the UN meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which will be held in New York next month.

He said it is unacceptable that the Japanese government has not signed and ratified the treaty. He vowed to have Japan spearhead efforts to abolish nuclear weapons as a signatory.