Memorial park dedicated to the victims of the atomic bomb & advocating for world peace since 1954.

Atomic Bomb Dome

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Itsukushima Jinja

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Kintaikyo Bridge

shihhsun Chien

引地信郎

はっちゃんねる

Michael Blaster Jones

大熊猫比呂志

Peace Memorial Park - Hiroshima

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park stands as a somber yet hopeful testament to the atomic bombing's devastation. The park's central axis aligns perfectly with the A-Bomb Dome, the skeletal remains of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, preserved as a stark reminder. Beyond the iconic dome, the park houses the Peace Memorial Museum, known for its unflinching portrayal of the bombing's immediate aftermath and long-term effects. The Children's Peace Monument, inspired by Sadako Sasaki and her paper cranes, is adorned with thousands of origami cranes sent from around the world, symbolizing a collective wish for peace. Less known is the Memorial Cenotaph, an arch-shaped monument that frames the Peace Flame and the A-Bomb Dome, aligning them in a powerful visual statement. The flame will burn until all nuclear weapons are eliminated from the earth. The park's design, by architect Kenzo Tange, reflects a modernist aesthetic intended to evoke both mourning and renewal, incorporating open spaces and reflecting pools to encourage contemplation.

Introduction

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park stands as a testament to the atomic bomb's devastating impact, built on what was once the city's bustling commercial and residential heart, now an open field created by the explosion. It serves not only to memorialize the direct and indirect victims, potentially numbering 140,000, but also to perpetuate the memory of nuclear horrors and advocate for world peace.

A central feature is the A-Bomb Dome, the skeletal remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. It is intentionally preserved as it stood after the bombing, a haunting reminder of the catastrophe. The Dome is a focal point, visible from the Peace Memorial Park's central cenotaph, and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, symbolizing both the horror of nuclear weapons and humanity's pledge for peace.

The Memorial Cenotaph, a concrete, saddle-shaped monument, shelters the names of all those killed by the bomb. Its arch shape is meant to represent a shelter for the souls of the victims. The epitaph inscribed upon it, "please rest in peace, for [we/they] shall not repeat the error," encapsulates the park's mission. An explanation plaque clarifies that "we" refers to all humanity and the "error" is the evil of war, transcending national blame to promote universal harmony and lasting world peace. The park also houses the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall, featuring a panorama of the destroyed city recreated with 140,000 tiles, each representing a victim.

Atomic Bomb Legacy

Within Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims stands as a central monument, holding the names of all those who perished from the atomic bombing, irrespective of nationality. This memorial, also known as the Memorial Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace, was erected in 1952 with the intention of sheltering the souls of the deceased. The stone chest within the cenotaph contains registries that are updated annually with the names of newly identified victims.

The cenotaph's arch shape, reminiscent of ancient haniwa pottery, symbolizes a roof providing shelter. It is carefully aligned within the park to offer a direct view of the Peace Flame and the A-Bomb Dome, integrating it with other key memorial elements. The epitaph inscribed on the monument, "Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil," is a call for peace and a pledge against the recurrence of war.

The inscription's deliberate ambiguity in Japanese allows for interpretations that encompass both a commitment by humanity and a reflection on past errors. An explanation plaque added in 1983 clarifies that the "we" refers to all humanity and the "error" signifies the evil of war, emphasizing the park's message of enduring grief, transcending hatred, and pursuing world peace. As of August 6, 2015, the cenotaph contained 297,684 names, a testament to the scale of the tragedy and the monument's role as a repository of remembrance.

Cenotaph for A-Bomb Victims

Within Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park stands the Children's Peace Monument, a poignant tribute to Sadako Sasaki and the countless child victims of the atomic bombing. This monument, conceived by native artists Kazuo Kikuchi and Kiyoshi Ikebe, was erected in 1958 through a fundraising campaign led by Japanese schoolchildren, including Sadako's classmates, deeply moved by her death from radiation-induced leukemia.

The monument features a bronze statue of Sadako holding a wire crane, inspired by the Japanese legend that folding a thousand cranes grants a wish. Sadako's wish was for a world free of nuclear weapons. Thousands of origami cranes, symbols of peace and a testament to the desire for a world without nuclear war, are offered around the monument by children and visitors from across the globe. An exhibit at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum clarifies that Sadako surpassed her 1000-crane goal, yet her wish remained unfulfilled when she died on October 25, 1955.

Beneath the main structure, a bronze crane acts as a wind chime, striking a peace bell donated by Nobel Prize winner Hideki Yukawa. The monument's base features a black marble slab inscribed with a powerful message: "This is our cry, this is our prayer: for building peace in the world." Figures of children surround the monument, representing the young victims of the bombing and the world's children who yearn for peace. Educational initiatives, like the "Sadako Project" in Honolulu, use the monument's history to promote peace and reconciliation, encouraging visitors to Pearl Harbor to fold paper cranes, symbolically linking two historic World War II sites.

Children's Peace Monument

The Peace Memorial Museum, a key facility within Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, consists of two buildings surveying Hiroshima's history and the advent of the nuclear bomb. Its primary focus is the events of August 6, detailing the bomb's dropping and its devastating human impact. Personal stories and artifacts displayed serve as a potent reminder of the importance of peace. The museum hopes to promote peace in the hope that history will not be repeated.

Designed by renowned architect Tange Kenzo, the museum uses pictures, movies, displays, original photography, lifelike models, artists’ impressions, recovered items, and descriptive explanations to explore the effects of the bomb. Since opening in 1955, over 50 million people have visited. Besides the exhibitions, the museum features Peace Education Programs which include testimonies from survivors of the attack, volunteers offering tours of the Peace Park and even the loaning of videos and posters for educational purposes. Although the focus of the museum is the impact of the bomb, it is informative about the destruction, while also being constructive and inspirational.

The museum manages a Peace Database, offering access to A-bomb and peace-related materials. Updated exhibits in 2017 and 2019 ensure the museum remains a relevant and impactful resource for understanding the consequences of nuclear warfare and promoting peace.

Peace Memorial Museum

The A-Bomb Dome, or Hiroshima Peace Memorial, stands as a haunting centerpiece within Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park. Formerly the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, its skeletal remains serve as a stark reminder of the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. Designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel, the building was initially celebrated for its European-influenced architecture, including a distinctive dome. The dome's steel frame miraculously resisted the blast's force, becoming an enduring symbol of the devastation.

The A-Bomb Dome's preservation sparked debate, ultimately leading to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It represents the catastrophic power of nuclear weapons and the enduring hope for world peace. Visitors to the park cannot enter the Dome itself, but can view it from the outside.

Located near the hypocenter of the blast, the Dome is a key element of the Peace Memorial Park, which includes the Peace Memorial Museum and the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims. The Cenotaph, with its arched roof, holds the names of over 220,000 victims. The park hosts an annual ceremony on August 6, marking the moment of the bombing with speeches, wreath-laying, and a moment of silence. The A-Bomb Dome is accessible via Hiroshima Electric Railway streetcar to the "Genbaku Dome-mae" stop.

Peace Memorial Park - Hiroshima

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