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Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

November 20, 2016 by David Herd

Atomic Bomb Dome

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park as expected was an emotional experience that I will never forget. Seventy one years ago at 8.15 am on August 6th 1945 U.S. pilots dropped an atomic bomb immediately killing 140,000 people. The Genbaku Dome you see above was the only building left standing near the centre of the bomb’s blast.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

The A-Bomb Dome from the Aioi Bridge, the bomb exploded right above the building, however the vertical columns in the building were somehow able to withstand the downward force of the blast.

It’s amazing the building survived

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

The bomb actually exploded 160 meters from the Dome & as you would expect everybody inside was killed instantly.

The Bell of Peace

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Built in 1964 to symbolize the creation of a movement for a world without nuclear weapons and war.

Dedication of the Peace Bell

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Of course as we all know, three days after the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima they also bombed Nagasaki. Many people believe it was not necessary to wipe out another 70,000 civilians as Japan was on the point of surrendering.

Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

 The Cenotaph is inscribed, “Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil.”

Cenotaph & park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

A memorial is held here every year on August 6th.

Flame of Peace

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Since it was lit on August 1, 1964 it has burned continuously to symbolize a commitment that all nuclear weapons should be removed from our planet.

Children’s Peace Monument

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

At two years of age Sadako Sasaki was exposed to the bombing, she contracted leukemia ten years later and died. Shocked by her death, her classmates called for a monument to mourn all the children who died from the atomic bombing. Credit City of Hiroshima.

For me this represents the saddest memory of all

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

The mass murder of thousands of innocent children in Hiroshima & Nagasaki is for me the saddest part of this horrific event which we can only hope will never be repeated.

Magnificent trees

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Located as you walk through the entrance of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Trees beside the flame of peace

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

In the distance you can see the Atomic Bomb Dome or Genbaku Dōmu.

Goddess of Peace

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

 Representing 3 religions, Angel’s wings for Christianity, Face of Buddha, & Shinto emblem on belt.

Obama visits Hiroshima

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

An historic meeting with Prime minister Abe on May 27 2016. Here are their speeches.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Thank you for visiting my Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park photo blog, we can only hope such a shocking event will never happen again.

How powerful was Hiroshima?

Atom bombs size

Compared to weapons of today it could be considered small, however that is not the case, it killed 140,000 people. 

Robert Lewis, the co-pilot of the U.S. bomber “Enola Gay,” later wrote, “My God what have we done?”
That horror, encapsulated by those few words, continues to resonate worldwide.

My highly rated hotel was in the perfect location next to Hiroshima station and close to tram & bus stops. For  a discounted room rate & free WiFi just book through THIS LINK. 

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1g Duck

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Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

November 17, 2016 by David Herd

Peace Park Statue

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Nagasaki Peace Park remembers Atom Bomb

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb which was dropped on the city August 9th 1945 instantly killing 74,000 civilians. The 9.7 meter statue was created in the hope this horrific tragic event will never be repeated.

Terrible statistics

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

 Man’s inhumanity to man, Makes countless thousands mourn! Robert Burns 1784.

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Nagasaki Atom Bomb

The right hand is pointing to the sky signifying the threat of atomic weapons, the left arm points horizontally to represent the wish for peace.

 Fountain of Peace

Nagasaki Atom Bomb

The fountain is shaped like the wings of an angel, it was constructed to remember the poor tragic victims who died searching for water.

Nagasaki Peace Bell

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

The Bells of Nagasaki were set up in 1977 and each year are rung at the moment of silence at 11:02 on the anniversary of the terrible event which instantly killed 74,000 people.

On 9 August 1945, the US dropped the second atomic bomb ever deployed in conflict, hitting the Japanese industrial city of Nagasaki. From BBC News August 2015.

School children of Nagasaki

Nagasaki Atom Bomb

 On October 24 2016 I saw these Japanese students paying respect at the Nagasaki Peace Park. I spoke to one of the teachers who told me they were here for a “peace lesson”. I told the teacher visiting Nagasaka had an extra personal meaning for me, I explained that my late uncle was a prisoner in the mines during the war, and how he was liberated by the Americans, put on a train & passed through the still burning city of Nagasaki 3 days after the atomic bomb instantly killed 74,000 people.

Here is my uncle’s story written in 1980, https://fivestarvagabond.com/soldiers-incredible-story/

This was a very special moving experience for me, seeing & hearing these beautiful Japanese schoolchildren singing for peace at the Nagasaki Peace Park.

Nagasaki students sing for peace

 More school children

Nagasaki Peace Park remembers Atom Bomb

 Heiwa Kinen-zo statue at Nagasaki Peace Park, an extremely humbling emotional experience reading about the 74,000 people who were killed instantly in August 1945. The marvelous statue was built to pray for victims of atomic bomb.

 Orizuru or paper cranes

Nagasaki Peace Park remembers Atom Bomb

There is a lovely story behind these colourful paper cranes that are sent by people from all over the world, they have really become a symbol of peace. 

A moving & symbolic experience

Nagasaki Atom Bomb

This statue provided perhaps the most moving and symbolic experience in my life, maybe it was the connection with my late uncle, maybe it was the emotion generated by the children that were here being taught about peace, whatever the reason I shall never forget this day.

How powerful was Hiroshima & Nagasaki?

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Compared to weapons of today it could be considered small, however that is not the case, it killed 140,000 people. 

Robert Lewis, the co-pilot of the U.S. bomber “Enola Gay,” later wrote, “My God what have we done?”
That horror, encapsulated by those few words, continues to resonate worldwide.

Standing Boy of Nagasaki

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Please follow think link for the full story.

A young boy carries on his back the lifeless body of his younger brother, in the devastated city of Nagasaki after the atomic bomb. An American military photographer, Joe O’Donnell, took a picture of him standing stoically near a cremation pit. No one knows the boy’s name, but the photo has become an iconic image of the human tragedy of nuclear war. This program follows the continuing efforts to deepen understanding of the photograph, while exploring the fate of thousands of “atomic-bomb orphans” and their struggles to survive the aftermath of World War II.

My hotel was in a perfect location only a 10 minute tram ride to the Peace Park. Rated highly by AGODA, book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate with free WiFi.

Thank you for visiting my Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb photo blog.

Sukiyaki (Ue o Muite Arukou) - Kyu Sakamoto (English Translation and Lyrics)

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Slide show here.

 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Check out these great posts

Counter only started June 26 2020.

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