The plaintiffs in a Nagasaki District Court ruling that recognized some individuals as hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, are expected to appeal on Tuesday.
Nagasaki District Court ordered the defendants including the Nagasaki city and prefectural governments on September 9 to recognize 15 of the 44 plaintiffs as hibakusha.
The plaintiffs were outside the government-designated zone of radiation exposure from the 1945 bombing in Nagasaki. But the court determined that 15 of them were in areas where black rain containing radioactive substances fell.
The plaintiffs said they are appealing because the district court ruling that recognized only some of them as hibakusha was inconsistent with precedents.
People recognized as hibakusha are eligible for certain medical allowances and government support. The central government announced on Saturday that it will expand the support so that everyone who was exposed to the fallout in Nagasaki will receive aid equivalent to those who are recognized hibakusha.
Nagasaki city and prefecture have indicated that they will accept the central government policy. The defendants have expressed plans to appeal. Mayor Suzuki Shiro and Governor Oishi Kengo are expected to directly explain to the plaintiffs on Tuesday why they plan to make this move.
The plaintiffs are opposing the defendants’ plan to appeal and are expected to file their own appeal after the meeting.