Representatives of Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, have left for Norway to receive this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

The group was awarded the prize in recognition of its efforts to realize a world without nuclear weapons and to demonstrate through witness testimony that nuclear arms must never be used again. The award ceremony will be held in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday.

Mimaki Toshiyuki, a co-chair of the group, and Tanaka Satoshi, a board member, left the city of Hiroshima on Saturday.

Before departure, Mimaki told reporters that he feels a heavy responsibility about his trip to Oslo. He said he hopes to use the opportunity to make an appeal to the world on the significance of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace building, on behalf of the people who passed away in distress.

Mimaki is scheduled to take the stage to receive the honor during the award ceremony. He will also attend a banquet and other celebratory events.

Meanwhile, two high school students, Ohara Yuka and Tsuda Rin, left Nagasaki on Saturday to attend the award ceremony together with Nihon Hidankyo officials. The pair have been involved in a campaign to deliver a petition to the United Nations calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons as high school peace ambassadors.

Ohara said she would like to express her determination to pass on the thoughts of survivors of the bombings and continue to engage in the activities to oppose nuclear weapons.

The two girls are also expected to take part in discussions with local students and other events.