We begin this hour here in Japan. A district court in Hiroshima has ruled that people exposed to the radioactive rain in the aftermath of the 1945 atomic bombing can be recognized as survivors known as "hibakusha."
The distinction allows the plaintiffs to receive a special designation that gives them access to free medical care.
The 84 plaintiffs and their families celebrated following Wednesday's ruling.
They had filed suit against the city and the prefecture of Hiroshima in 2015.
In it, plaintiffs claim they suffered health problems after being exposed to radioactive substances through so-called black rain.
The local governments argued there was no solid proof that the residents were exposed to an amount of radioactive materials that would harm them.
On Wednesday, the presiding judge ruled the plaintiffs' testimony was reasonable.
He said their health records show they developed illnesses believed to be linked to fallout from the atomic bombing.
◆in the aftermath of ～の余波で、～の結果として
◆plaintiff 原告 someone who brings a legal action against another person in a court of law 類義語 complainant British English → defendant
◆ruling 判決、裁定 an official decision, especially one made by a court
◆presiding judge 裁判長
◆testimony 証言 a formal statement saying that something is true, especially one a witness makes in a court of law
◆develop 発症する、患う