Atomic Bomb Survivors ( <i>Hibakusha</i> ) Studies and Transitional Justice Studies: Fostering Dialogue Between Fields

ABSTRACT Prompted by the advocacy for ‘nuclear justice’ by nuclear weapon detonation survivors, some scholars have begun to highlight the potential for transitional justice practices to address nuclear legacies. However, discussions on integrating nuclear and transitional justice research have been limited, often applying transitional justice frameworks unilaterally to nuclear issues. This approach overlooks the contributions of atomic bomb survivors (hibakusha) studies, thus missing opportunities for meaningful knowledge exchange that could enrich the transitional justice field. This article aims to foster a research dialogue between these domains. It begins by reviewing the history of hibakusha studies. Subsequently, it identifies three major themes related to redress – ‘survivor-centeredness and participation,’ ‘needs versus harms’ and ‘assistance versus reparations’ – which offer points of convergence between hibakusha and transitional justice studies. The article indicates overlapping questions for future research that could benefit both epistemic communities.