Hiroshima - Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki has become a food symbol of Hiroshima.

Its origins date back to the 1920s when it was called "Issen Yoshoku" literally meaning "one cent western meal". I am not exactly sure why these cabbage pancakes are considered a western meal? I have never had anything like it my life. The current name is derived from the word okonomi meaning "what you like" or "what you want" and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked".

As I am sure you could tell those were a couple of pictures of the ladies making our Okonomiyaki. There is a batter layer spread out on the grill then cabbage, noodles, pork and bean sprouts. Of course you can customize this part but we got the traditional one which I just listed. After all the goodies "the gu" are piled on top of the cabbage an egg is cracked over top. Once the dish is ready to go then the a sauce is drizzled over the top. You are expected to eat it all with chopsticks!:)

No matter how it sounded Hiroshima okonomiyaki was delicious. Okonomiyaki is now made through out Japan but slightly different everywhere. We were told by our MWR guide that Hiroshima's okonomiyaki is very popular. I can understand why.

Yes that is a Gerber toddler meal beside me because no Dylan didn't eat any okonomuyaki:)

Hiroshima and the A-bomb

This is a tough post for me! I feel as though I need to accurately explain my feels, thoughts, the truth of history and so much more. I know that I will not be able to do so in this forum but I will do my best.

Also please note that I have withheld information but yet there are still some ghastly details in my writings.

After visiting Iwakuni, we drove on into the heart of Hiroshima and the Hiroshima Peace Park. Our first stop was the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

When we arrived at the museum we were told there was only about an hour and a half (if I remember correctly) before closing. As we entered many emotions enveloped me before I even read a single word. Walking into the main exhibition hall, I was surrounded by Japanese people, as is the case everywhere here in Japan. Yet instantly, I began to wonder if they were looking at me differently. Did they see me as ‘the evil’ that destroyed their city? Pushing the feelings to the side the best I could I continued into the room. I love history and I was here to learn besides the simplified childish thought of you started it came to mind. With so many people packed into the museum, not unlike the rest of Japan, it was hard to read the different exhibits. I was shocked and pleasantly surprise to read that Japan admitted they had engaged in erroneous diplomatic actions. No kidding don’t bomb a neutral country and wake the sleeping tiger!!
The destruction was horrific as you see in the picture above after the bomb was dropped there effectively was no Hiroshima. Walking through this first section I felt as though I had to make an effort to keep my jaw from falling on the floor.
We all have an idea in our heads how destructive an Atomic bomb is but until you experience the reconstructions, diagrams and real photographs/video you will never grasp the destructive power. “ At the instant of detonation, the temperature at the center exceeded a million degrees Celsius (180032 degrees Fahrenheit) generating an enormous fireball. Within 1 second of detonation it had extended to its maximum diameter of 280meters (918.635 feet). Temperatures on the surface reached 5000 degrees Celsius (9032 degrees Fahrenheit)”
“At the moment of the explosion, an extremely high pressure of several hundred thousand atmospheres was created. The surrounding air was thrust violently outwards and produced an intensely strong blast. The blast pressure 500 meter (1640.419 feet) from the hypocenter was 19 tons per square meter”
The images of the before and after of Hiroshima didn’t seem real! Why Hiroshima? It was the political and economic heart of the Chugoku Region and was a vital military base. Hiroshima was one of the last major cities left untouched by bombing. Here is an interesting fact that few people teach – Kyoto the historical capital of Japan, a city of 1600 temples and 300-400 shrines was purposely preserved by us. Our leaders made the conscience decision not to bomb the city so that Japan could preserve their heritage. Why isn’t that in the textbooks????

The exhibits were about to change from being “impersonal” to extremely personal. In a display case before we reached the next section of the museum was a wristwatch. The watch was stopped at 8:15am which was the time the world’s first atomic bombing took place. The man said that he had been about to catch a butterfly….
When we rounded the corner, I was greeted by horrific wax figures of a-bomb victims and instantly my hand flew to my throat as tears came to my eyes. Through out the next exhibition hall the sick feeling in my stomach grew as I read about the victims of the bombing. Holding most of my tears in my sheer will my hand stayed on my throat as though I was keeping my heart to beat regularly and forcing my stomach to stay in place. Once again I felt as though every eye in the area was on me. I know for a fact that many people were looking at the Americans on my tour to gauge our reactions. Eventually I could take no more and told Rory I needed to leave – it was all too much. Not only were there the graphic wax figures and photos of real victims but also the victim’s personal items were in display cases including some people’s skin and hair.

Once outside Rory and I regrouped and began to walk through the Peace Park.

Here we have a shot of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims lined up with the Flame of Peace and A-bomb dome.A shot looking back at the flame of peace with the museum behind it. The flame has burned continuously since it was lit on August 1, 1964.Children's Peace Memorial. Including paper cranes in memory of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who tried to make 1,000 origami cranes so that she would be granted her wish. The story is that she was unable to finish the cranes before she died of Leukemia. Therefore her friends finished folding the cranes and buried them with her. Ever since children have brought origami cranes to the children's memorial here in the peace park. Inside all of the booth above are the origami cranes

Here is an up close picture of the origami cranes hanging and used to create words and pictures.

The plaque in front of the trees states "This tree was exposed to the radiation of the atomic bomb at a distance of 1,300 meter (4265.091 feet) away from the hypocenter. Half of the trunk on the hypocenter side was burnt to a hollow by heat rays and blast from the explosion. The tree is still growing today as if it were protecting the burns on the trunk. It was transplanted here in May of 1973"

A-Bomb Dome

"When the atomic bomb exploded, it ravaged the building instantly. Heat blazing from above consumed the entire building, killing everyone in it. Because the blast attacked the building from virtually straight overhead, some walls escaped total collapse. Along with the wire framework of the dome, these form the shape that has become a symbol. At some point it became known as the "A-bomb Dome.""

Though I am deeply sorrowful for the tragic ghastly deaths of so many I agree with our actions on August 6, 1945. Before you make your decision on whether it was right to use an atomic bomb I ask you to please research the atrocities that took place on Iwo Jima. Do you really think America should have sent her sons into mainland Japan?
I pray that there never comes a day where another nuclear weapon is used. Unfortunately, I do not have the hope that will be the case there are too many selfish God rejecting humans on this earth.

Hiroshima - Iwakuni

Prior to all of our April/May visitors Rory, Dylan and I went on yet another Japanese adventure. Yes we are very good at packing them in since we had only arrived back from Thailand 7 days earlier:) We went on a 3 day and 3 night sight seeing trip around Hiroshima. If you were paying attention you just wondered how in the world we did that 3 days/3 night. Ah that is the fun - we left base on a tour bus at 10pm and drove through the night to Iwakuni arriving around 9:30am. The miserable part of that overnight bus trip (aside from the seats) was we stopped every two hours and the lights popped on inside! Aarghh. Hey if rotating the bus drivers was going to get us there alive so be it:)

Iwakuni is known for its unique bridge and castle.

Enjoy the picturesA view from the bus parking (the river rock) of Iwakuni Kintai Bridge.

" Many bridges have been constructed over the Nishiki Rover which flows through the castle town. However, thanks to the fast-moving current during rainstorms, the bridges were often swept away. "I want to build a bridge that will never be washed away" was the ardent wish of the third feudal lord, Hiroyoshi Kikkawa. The only way to realize his dream was to build a bridge without piers or to devise much stronger piers than those on previous bridges. Hiroyoshi who was interested in the culture of the Chinese Ming dynasty happened to see a picture of the stone bridges in a sightseeing book of the West Lake... He came upon the idea of building bridge piers like islets in the Nishiki River and constructing strong arches between them. In 1673, after repeated trial constructions and failures the unique bridge in which castle construction technology effectively incorporating wooden framework techniques was completed"

The family heading over the bridge. If you look really closely you can see the castle on top of the hill right over Rory's shoulder.

Looking back on the bridge.

If measured in a straight line the bridge is over 193.3 meters (634.18 feet) in length and is 5 meters (16.4 feet) wide.

The feudal lords wish of making a bridge that would never bewashed away was lost in a violent typhoon on September 14, 1950 when the bridge was destroyed.

One week later, the city council proposed that the bridge be rebuilt and the project was started. "The design of the original bridge was so good that the engineers in charge of research remarked, 'The techniques used were in perfect accordance with modern dynamical principles. Modern engineering cannot improve it". After two year the Kinatai Bridge reopened.

View from under the bridge. Amazingly it looked a lot like Lincoln Logs.
Iwakuni Castle as we were heading up the cable way.

The castle was built in 1608 by Hiroie Kikkawa the first Lord of Iwakuni Domain. The four story white donjon was built in the architectural style of the Momoyama era, reflecting European influences. In 1615, the "Law of One Castle per Province" was passed and strictly enforced therefore Iwakuni Castle was destroyed. In 1957 a group organized the Association of Reconstruction of the Iwakuni Castle and in 1962 the reconstruction was complete.

This picture gives you a better idea of the castle's height.

There Rory and Dylan are at the base of the structure.

Looking out from the castle to the Nishiki River.

Rory and Dylan, who doesn't know what to think, posing with a samurai suit of armor.

OK I realize that I am by no means a cat person. I am allergic to them and prefer dogs therefore I may not be the best judge but oh my goodness. We saw this man doing the typical Asian Squat while on his cell phone. That is nothing unusual until you see the two cats hanging out on his shoulders - very strange and to me unpleasant. He is obviously a cat person though! Just had to add this picture it was taken in Iwakuni after we came down from the castle.

Combi Mini Modeling

As you all know from a previous blog Dylan had the opportunity to model here in Japan. Many of you asked for pictures but until now I was unable to post any. We were under contract not to show pictures nor talk about the clothes and venue until the catalog came out. The catalog is out:) The website is at the bottom of the post if you care to check it out.

Both days of shooting were held in Tokyo.

Here is a small view of the building used for the first day of shooting. The picture was taken off the balcony when we were not sure if we were allowed to take pictures

Mommy with the model in the pjs from the catalogA family picture outside of the first venue.Daddy and Dylan leaving Sweet Basil Studio after the second day of shooting. The dressing room at Sweet Basil
Our star getting ready
There were plenty of assistants around working on getting the children to pay attention and smile.
Whoa Buddy:)

Not sure what to think about the shirt bib
Melting his Mommy's heart with that smile!
Looks a little mischievous in this picture

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If you would like please check Dylan out in Combi Mini's Babywear 2009 catalog.

Go to http://CombiMini.jp

Midway down the page you will see four circles with the words new. These are the new catalogs. The second circle in from the left should have a picture of a baby sitting on the front of the catalog. Please click on this catalog. Once the catalog comes up look up at the top right. You will see a box/109p then the word go in a circle. To go directly to the pages where you can spot Dylan enter the page number in the box and hit go.

Dylan is on the following pages of the catalog 65, 70, 71 and 80

Hope you enjoy :)