Hiroshima

I am grateful to have had the chance to visit Hiroshima on June 15 (Day 154). I have few words for the day. The museum was quiet and sober, filled with many Japanese school children. Perhaps the website is the best way to describe the horror.

The peace park near ground zero of the Atomic Bomb was a good place to walk and absorb.

This is the bridge (rebuilt now), which was the target for the plane that dropped the bomb.

This building (the Genbaku Dome) was one of the few in that area that survived the blast. It is maintained as a reminder in the peace park.

A memorial to the many children killed by the bomb blast.

Another monument in the peace park.

I came away from the visit to the Bomb site with a strong appreciation for the spirit of reconciliation from every Japanese person I heard speak. One theme that came across strongly from multiple speakers was the way in which the United States was transformed from an enemy to a friend by the way in which they helped Japan after the war. It is very hard to judge these things, but everywhere we went, people were friendly, waving, and approaching us to practice English. That is all I can judge by from my visit.

One aspect of reconciliation was telling the story of the bombing clearly and without flinching from the horrible reality. The second was where the story went next… it went to war being the problem, not the United States, who dropped the bomb. Every Japanese person I heard mentioned atrocities that accompanied the Japanese as well as American side of the war. The Peace Park is a testament to the only conclusion, to end war that risks this results.

It is easy to read about this, but to actually hear it articulated over and over by those living in Hiroshima today was a powerful witness.

A fitting end to the day, was a visit to the beautiful Shukkeien Garden.