On the morning of August 6th, 1945 at 8:15 a.m. the first atomic bomb ever used was dropped over Hiroshima by an American B52 bomber named "Enola Gay". The bomb , very inappropriately nicknamed "little boy", detonated approximately 600 metres above the center of the city, instantly killing around 70,000 people, and subsequently killing another 70,000 by the end of the year, owing to radiation sickness and burns.The ghostly skeleton of the Hiroshima Prefectural Promotion Hall, renamed the A-bomb Dome, has been left standing as a sombre memorial to the tragic events.
As I crossed the bridge to the Peace Memorial Park, my serious mood was momentarily broken by a middle aged Japanese man on a bike wearing a straw cowboy hat, who stopped when he saw me saying "Herro. You Bruce Wirris. Die hard. Bruce Wirris. I indiana Jones, Harrison Fold," gesturing to his hat. We just laughed together. After asking him where his whip is, making a whipping gesture, Indiana rode off and I continued on my way, thinking what a bizarre encounter. Clearly Hiroshima has come a long way!
I wondered around the beautifully designed Peace Memorial Park with its Peace Bell and the impressive memorial to the victims in which their names are enshrined. Most touching was the Memorial to the Children, initially deticated to a young girl by her classmates when she died ten years after the bombing, after a long battle with cancer. Watching a large group of Japanese school chidren singing a song at the memorial was a very emotional event to witness.
The Peace Memorial Museum was a fascinating, wonderfully designed museum explaining the history of Hiroshima before and after the bomb while giving an unbiased account of the events leading to the bomb. It also detailed the horrifying destructive effects of the bomb and Japan's fight for the abolishment of nuclear weapons. A globe marking both England and Israel as nuclear armed coutries made me feel uneasy, especially after observing real examples of what such a weapon is capable of. I can't see the point of such a weapon ever being used again for any reason and it's depressing to think that various countries are seeking to obtain nuclear weapons as a priority. It was comforting to see so many school children, probably from all over Japan, come to learn the lessons of what happened here. If only the whole world could.
On the morning of August 6th, 1945 at 8:15 a.m. the first atomic bomb ever used was dropped over Hiroshima by an American B52 bomber named "Enola Gay". The bomb , very inappropriately nicknamed "little boy", detonated approximately 600 metres above the center of the city, instantly killing around 70,000 people, and subsequently killing another 70,000 by the end of the year, owing to radiation sickness and burns.The ghostly skeleton of the Hiroshima Prefectural Promotion Hall, renamed the A-bomb Dome, has been left standing as a sombre memorial to the tragic events.
As I crossed the bridge to the Peace Memorial Park, my serious mood was momentarily broken by a middle aged Japanese man on a bike wearing a straw cowboy hat, who stopped when he saw me saying "Herro. You Bruce Wirris. Die hard. Bruce Wirris. I indiana Jones, Harrison Fold," gesturing to his hat. We just laughed together. After asking him where his whip is, making a whipping gesture, Indiana rode off and I continued on my way, thinking what a bizarre encounter. Clearly Hiroshima has come a long way!
I wondered around the beautifully designed Peace Memorial Park with its Peace Bell and the impressive memorial to the victims in which their names are enshrined. Most touching was the Memorial to the Children, initially deticated to a young girl by her classmates when she died ten years after the bombing, after a long battle with cancer. Watching a large group of Japanese school chidren singing a song at the memorial was a very emotional event to witness.
The Peace Memorial Museum was a fascinating, wonderfully designed museum explaining the history of Hiroshima before and after the bomb while giving an unbiased account of the events leading to the bomb. It also detailed the horrifying destructive effects of the bomb and Japan's fight for the abolishment of nuclear weapons. A globe marking both England and Israel as nuclear armed coutries made me feel uneasy, especially after observing real examples of what such a weapon is capable of. I can't see the point of such a weapon ever being used again for any reason and it's depressing to think that various countries are seeking to obtain nuclear weapons as a priority. It was comforting to see so many school children, probably from all over Japan, come to learn the lessons of what happened here. If only the whole world could.
what's the last picture about? looks like a watch...
ReplyDeleteNice pictures - You're getting handy with the disposable. Do you have a scanner as well? How are you getting them into digital format?
Hey. the last picture didn:t come out well. it shows someones watch stopped at 8.15 when the bomb went off. It was through glass so it disposible can:t cope.
ReplyDeleteI have been developing the pictures straight onto cd. you just have to ask and they do it, no problem.