Application for Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Handbook from Outside of Japan(Faqid－3982)

The following procedures are for persons residing outside of Japan who wish to apply for an Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbook.

1) Procedures for Applying in Your Country of Residence

 You have been able to apply for the issuance of an Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbook and a Certificate of a Health Screening Examinee at a Japanese consulate or other Japanese office in your area without visiting Japan since December 15, 2008 and April 1, 2010, respectively. Hiroshima City will accept applications only from persons who meet any of the following criteria.

(1) Criteria for receiving the Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbook

• A) Those directly affected by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima City or certain areas adjacent to the city(*1) at that time
• B) Those who entered the area within a two-kilometer radius from the epicenter by August 20, 1945, the year when the atomic bomb was dropped
• C) Those who were forced to suffer exposure to the effects of radiation from the atomic bomb at the time when or after it was was dropped until August 20, 1945, including the following:

  • (1) Those who were involved in relief activities for hibakusha and/or handling the dead bodies of many hibakusha.

    • (a) If you spent two or more days in a facility or similar where 15 or more injured hibakusha were (5 or more if that setting was a closed area, such as a hospital room).
    • (b) If you had contact with 5 or more injured hibakusha per day.
    • (c) Those who do not fall under (a) or (b), but are recognized to have an equivalent experience in terms of radiation exposure.

  • (2) Those recognized to have the same experience as the plaintiffs in the lawsuit to give those exposed to black rain Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbooks.
    (Must fall under (1) or (2) below; effective as of April 1, 2022)

  • • ​(1) Those recognized to have been exposed to black rain, and whose location, time, rainfall conditions, and livelihoods when exposed have been recognized as the same as the plaintiffs in the lawsuit to give those exposed to black rain Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbooks.
    • (2) Those with eleven types of disorder-causing illnesses (excluding those not clearly caused by exposure to radiation from the atomic bomb)

      • Eleven types of disorder-causing illnesses:

        • Illnesses that cause hematopoietic dysfunction: aplastic anemia, iron-deficiency anemia, etc.
        • Illnesses that cause liver dysfunction: liver cirrhosis, etc.
        • Illnesses that cause cell proliferation dysfunction: malignant growths, etc.
        • Illnesses that cause endocrine dysfunction: diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc.
        • Illnesses that cause cerebrovascular disease: subarachnoid hemorrhage, brain hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, etc.
        • Illnesses that cause cardiovascular dysfunction: hypertensive heart disease, chronic ischemic heart disease, etc.
        • Illnesses that cause renal dysfunction: chronic nephritis, chronic renal failure, etc
        • Illnesses that cause vision dysfunction due to lens opacification: cataracts
        • Illnesses that cause respiratory dysfunction: emphysema, chronic interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, etc.
        • Illnesses that cause locomotive dysfunction: osteoarthritis, spondylosis deformans, etc.
        • Illnesses that cause gastrointestinal dysfunction due to ulcers: gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, etc.
          Note: those who have been confirmed to have received cataract surgery in the past (intraocular lens implantation) will be deemed to have vision dysfunction due to lens opacification.
• D) Those who were unborn children of those falling under any of the items (A) to (C) described above and were born by May 31, 1946

(2) Criteria for receiving the Certificate of a Health Screening Examinee

 Those eligible for application for a Certificate of a Health Screening Examinee are people who were in the areas listed below (*2) when the atomic bomb was dropped, and their unborn children who were born by May 31, 1946.

*1: Hiroshima City or certain areas adjacent to the city at that time, including:

• (a) Hiroshima City
• (b) Gion-cho, Asa-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (c) Kurumegi, Hesaka-mura, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (d) Naka, Ochikubo, Kita-hirahara, Nishi-hirahara, and Yorita, Nakayama-mura, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (e) Mokage-kita, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
  Note: For Area (e), applications should be submitted to the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture.

 *2: Eligible for Type 1 Certificate of a Health Screening Examinee:

• (a) Shimaki and Dambara, Yasuno-mura, Yamagata-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (b) Tsubushi, Kobara, Idegahara, Yanagare, Kusadani, Furumochi, Mori, Shimoidani, Mondeguchi, Kito, and Ege, Minochi-mura, Saeki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (c) Uokiri, Nakago, Shimojo, Kami-kofukagawa, and Shimo-kofukagawa, Kochi-mura, Saeki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (d) Ishiuchi-mura, Saeki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (e) Toshimatsu, Kuchiwada, and Takai, Yahata-mura, Saeki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (f) Uga, Takayama, Hongo-shita, Hongo-naka, Mikuni, Uokiri, Hongo-kami,Onohara-naka, Nahara, Onobara-kami, Sakaibara, and Sakainokami, Kuchi-mura, Asa-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (g) Kegeni, Hiura-mura, Asa-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (h) Toyama-mura, Asa-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (i) Chorakuji and Takatori, Yasu-mura, Asa-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
• (j) Tomomura, Asa-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
  Note: For Area (a), applications should be submitted to the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture.

Procedure: from Application to Decision

• 1) Submit application (in your area, submit at Japanese counsul of country of residence. The application can be submitted to the consul by a proxy but it cannot be sent by mail)
• 2) Application received in Hiroshima (the application will be sent to the Hiroshima Municipal Government from the Japanese consulate or other Japanese office in your area via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• 3) Review conducted (the statements of witnesses and the relevant documents confirmation of application based on testimony and related materials)
• 4) Overseas interview (held as necessary)
• 5) If approved: Handbook issued through Japanese consul in your area or relevant body
      If denied: Notification sent from the City of Hiroshima

2) How to submit an application during a visit to Japan

When submiting an application during visit to Japan, please use the Support Program for Overseas Atomic Bomb Survivors (Support Program for the Issuance of an Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbook During a Visit to Japan).

Support system for overseas atomic bomb survivor's traveling to Japan for handbook issuance

This system provides support for travel and other expenses for persons traveling from abroad to Japan in order to apply for issuance of a new Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbook ("handbook" hereinafter), or to apply for issuance of a Type 1 or Type 2 proof of reception of medical examination certificate ("medical examination certificate" hereinafter).

Eligible Persons

Persons residing outside of Japan who desire to travel to Japan in order to submit an application to receive a handbook or medical examination certificate.

Necessary Documents

Before traveling to Japan, please submit the following documents to the Qualification Section, Relief Division of the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department (Health and Welfare Bureau) at the address listed at the bottom of this page.

1. Copy of your Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbook Application or Medical Examination Certificate Application
2. Copy of your Atomic Bomb Survivor Certificate
3. Travel to Japan Support Program Usage Application
4. Travel to Japan and Other Expenses Support Application
5. Application Related to Aid Personnel/Interpreter (if necessary)
6. Items for verification of expenses for traveling to Japan and related expenses (receipts)

Note: Documents 1-5 can be downloaded below and printed out for submission.

Procedures to use the system

1. Before traveling to Japan, submit necessary documents 1 and 2 from the above-listed Required Documents. When the fact of your exposure to the atomic bomb can be confirmed with these documents, you will then be notified regarding the scheduling of a date to travel to Japan and the procedures after arrival.
2. After setting the dates for traveling to Japan, submit applications 3, 4, and 5 of the above-listed Required Necessary Documents.
3. After arrival in Japan, submit the actual application for reception of a handbook or medical exam certificate. These will be subject to a review that will require you to remain in Hiroshima City for five to six days.
4. Travel expenses related to your journey to Hiroshima City (transportation, lodging, and other travel-related expenses) will be reimbursed after submission of your application while staying in Hiroshima City.

Note: you must contact the section described below, Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department before traveling to Japan.

Downloads (in Japanese unless otherwise noted)

• Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbook Application
• Medical Examination Certificate Application
• Travel to Japan Support Program Usage Application
• Travel to Japan Support Program Usage Application (English)
• Travel to Japan and Other Expenses Support Application
• Travel to Japan and Other Expenses Support Application (English)
• Application Related to Aid Personnel/Interpreter (Front)
• Application Related to Aid Personnel/Interpreter (Back)

Inquiries regarding this page

Qualification Section, Relief Division, Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department, Health and Welfare Bureau
1-6-34 Kokutaiji-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Japan 730-8586
Tel: 082-504-2193//Fax:082-504-2257
Email: gentaiengo@city.hiroshima.jp