Appendix 3

A Summary of the Findings over the 20 Year Period

on the Japanese Fishermen Exposed to Fallout in1954

On March 1 in 1954, 23 Japanese fishermen aged from 18 to 39
were exposed to radioactive fallout produced by the thermo-nuclear
test explosion which was performed by the U. S. Authorities at
Bikini lagoon.

They were crew of a tuna-fishing boat

"The 5th

Lucky Dragon".
The location of the boat was 166°58' E.

and 11°53'N..

At about

3.50 a.m. they saw a huge red light in the west and heard detonationlike sounds 7 - 8 minutes later while they were fishing for tuna.
At about 7.00 a.m. white ashes began to fall on the boat which continued
for about 4 1/2 hours.

After 14 days navigation they returned to their

harbor, Yaizu, on March 14, 1954.

After landing, all the fishermen

were found to have been injured by the radioactive materials.

Seven of

them were hospitalized to the Tokyo University Hospital and the other
sixteen to the First National Hospital of Tokyo by March 28.

They were

discharged from both hospitals in May 1955, except one fatal case who
died on September 23, 1954.

After being discharged, most of them

have been examined so far as possible on an anual basis.
A.

State of Irradiation and Estimated Radiation Dose

When fallout fell most intensively they could not keep their mouths
and eyes open.

Fallout deposited on the deck as thick as their foot

prints were marked.
three ways :

The persons were irradiated in the following

1) From the radioactive materials adhered to the skin

2) Externally from the radioactive materials in the cabins, on the
deck etc.

3)

Internally from the radioactive materials entered various

organs.
The estimation of radiation dose to skin as well as the dose by
internal exposure were difficult.

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On the other hand, the estimated

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