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.
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