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Japanese man certified as double A-bomb victim
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer – Tue Mar 24, 7:39 am ETTOKYO – A 93-year-old Japanese man has become the first person certified as a survivor of both U.S. atomic bombings at the end of World War II, officials said Tuesday.

Tsutomu Yamaguchi had already been a certified "hibakusha," or radiation survivor, of the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bombing in Nagasaki, but has now been confirmed as surviving the attack on Hiroshima three days earlier as well, city officials said.

Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on Aug. 6, 1945, when a U.S. B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He suffered serious burns to his upper body and spent the night in the city. He then returned to his hometown of Nagasaki just in time for the second attack, city officials said.

"As far as we know, he is the first one to be officially recognized as a survivor of atomic bombings in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki," Nagasaki city official Toshiro Miyamoto said. "It's such an unfortunate case, but it is possible that there are more people like him."

Certification qualifies survivors for government compensation — including monthly allowances, free medical checkups and funeral costs — but Yamaguchi's compensation will not increase, Miyamoto said.

Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic bomb attacks. About 140,000 people were killed in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Yamaguchi is one of about 260,000 people who survived the attacks. Bombing survivors have developed various illnesses from radiation exposure, including cancer and liver illnesses.

Details of Yamaguchi's health problems were not released.

Thousands survivors continue to seek official recognition after the government rejected their eligibility for compensation. The government last year eased the requirements for being certified as a survivor, following criticism the rules were too strict and neglected many who had developed illnesses that doctors have linked to radiation.

Lusankya wrote:He's like those guys who survive getting hit by lightning all the time, except more hardcore.

Stuart wrote:You mean we missed him twice?

I wonder where he lives now

Havok wrote:The U.S. should step up and pay for the rest of this guys life. In luxury. Holy fuck man.

Havok wrote:The U.S. should step up and pay for the rest of this guys life. In luxury.

Solauren wrote:Stuart, stop being an asshole. You're attempts are humour are as bad as Republican economic policies.

Solauren wrote:Has this guy breed? I mean because, DAMN, that's some genes to pass on.

Erik von Nein wrote:

Solauren wrote:Has this guy breed? I mean because, DAMN, that's some genes to pass on.

No, really, they aren't. If he survived and was exposed to quite a bit of radiation there'd be enough damage to his genes that passing them on wouldn't be a good idea. Genetic defects would be (relatively) high.

Adrian Laguna wrote:

Solauren wrote:Stuart, stop being an asshole. You're attempts are humour are as bad as Republican economic policies.

The man is a nuclear weapons targeteer, who once upon a time earned a living calculating the effects of atomic blasts on cities, block by block, using slide rules. He's not being an asshole, he's showing a rarefied form of gallows humour which is apparently much too strong for you.

Erik von Nein wrote: No, really, they aren't. If he survived and was exposed to quite a bit of radiation there'd be enough damage to his genes that passing them on wouldn't be a good idea. Genetic defects would be (relatively) high. What did he do that helped him survive that was based on his genes, anyway?

Kodiak wrote:I remember a stand-up comic routine by a Chinese woman.

"It's tough getting anything from my grandparents. 'Can I borrow money for a car?' They always come back "When we were your age we had two nuclear bombs drop on us, and we never complained."