Japan's nationwide group of atomic bomb survivors, known as hibakusha, will start discussing its reorganization this year. The group faces difficulties continuing their campaigns toward nuclear abolition, as the number of survivors is decreasing.

The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, known as Nihon Hidankyo, aims to map out its new form by 2024.

Members of the group have played a critical role in global campaign to eliminate nuclear weapons. But recently, the group had to scale down its activities due to the aging of its members.

The organization has mainly been operated by survivors, but it plans to invite more people to take part.
The group's Secretary General Kido Sueichi said the issue of nuclear weapons is not just that of hibakusha, but of all human beings. He said the confederation must be reorganized to have more young people to take part.

According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the average age of hibakusha is now 84.53. The number of survivors in Japan was 118,935 as the end of March 2022. The figure fell below 120,000 for the first time.

Hibakusha and its supporters say as survivors are aging, it is critical to come up with ways to pass on their testimonials to tell the world the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons.