Today six of us, including Allan and I, decided to leave the tour group for the day and visit Hiroshima. We took a taxi to the bullet train, boarded the bullet, and then took another taxi to the memorial. Traveling around via taxi is very easy. The taxi drivers are very helpful – just show them a picture of where you want to go, or present an address, and off you go. The drivers open the doors for you, wear white gloves, snappy hats, and starched white shirts, and they drive very safely. (Although traveling on the opposite side of the street from what we are used to, is a bit hair-raising.)
We walked the grounds of the memorial park, stopping first at the A-Bomb Dome, the ruins of the former Hiroshima Industrial Promotion Hall. It is the building that was below the bomb when it was detonated, and so it is considered the epicenter. It has been left partially in ruins, in memory of all who lost their lives. The A-Bomb Dome was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1996.
The Children’s peace monument was where we stopped next, a statue dedicated to the memory of the children who died as a result of the bombing. The girl statue has her arms raised with a crane above her. The statue is based on the story of Sadako Sasaki, a little girl who died from radiation poisoning. Before she died, she folded 1,000 origami cranes, (there is a Japanese legend that cranes live for 1,000 years), so she made one for each year. Today, children from around the world send cranes to the site and they are displayed in pictures around the memorial. People are encouraged to ring the bell, which we did, and the beautiful sound can be heard throughout the park.
Near the center of the park is a concrete, saddle-shaped monument that covers the names of all of the people killed by the bomb. The monument is positioned so as to frame the Peace Flame and the A-Bomb Dome.
We then walked over to the Peace Bell, a large Japanese bell hanging inside a small open-sided structure. Visitors are encouraged to ring the bell for world peace and the melodious tolls, just like the children’s Peace Bell, ring throughout the Peace Park.
We walked through the Hall of Remembrance, which inspires thoughts of the victims, prayers for the peaceful repose of their souls, and offers a place to sit and contemplate peace. The fountain in the center depicts a clock face showing 8:15 am, marking the time of the bombing. The fountain offers water to the A-bomb victims, many of whom died begging for water to quench their thirst. We walked down a ramp going counterclockwise, to the bottom, where 140,000 tiles are mounted in the walls, representing the number of victims that are estimated to have died.
The last stop was the Hiroshima Peace Memorial museum, that was very emotional to walk through. We saw torn and bloodied clothing that was from some of the victims, as well as the charred remains of everyday items. Pictures from the aftermath of the bombing were on display, and most were difficult to view.
It was an emotional visit, but one we were glad we had the opportunity to see. We can only hope and pray the world learns from this tragedy, and that a better world can exist that is free from nuclear weapons.
We ate a quick lunch at the park before making our way back to the hotel, and by then it was dinnertime, and Allan and I went to a tiny Japanese restaurant with udon soup for Allan and rice, eggs, and chicken for me. We also ordered a grilled beef skewer, and draft beers. The owner seated us at a little secluded table, with walls that surrounded us with wooden slats, and we listened to the 60’s music that was playing. Go figure. It was a nice little romantic getaway.
We walked back to our hotel, through the narrow streets. It is very safe, but you have to be cognizant of the cars and the many bikes that are going by.
A-Bomb Dome
The Children’s Peace monument with the crane overhead
Pictures made with origami cranes
The peace bell which I rang for peace throughout the world.
The monument is positioned so as to frame the Peace Flame and the A-Bomb Dome. The peace flame has burned continuously since it was lit in 1964, and will remain lit until all nuclear bombs on the planet are destroyed and the planet is free from the threat of nuclear annihilation.
Depicting 8:15 when the bomb detonated. The fountain offers water to the victims who died begging for water to quench their thirst.
“Prayer for Peace” statue erected in 1977. The artist, Katsuzo Entsyba, wrote about his piece, “I want to sound the trumpet for peace in the search for a new future.”