Taking the Big Break

On Wednesday, we visited the Hiroshima Peace Park, including the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Children’s Peace Memorial, the Flame of Peace, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.    It was very moving and very powerful for all of us. 

It is hard to know as parents how much of this historic negativity to expose one’s children too, especially at the young age of 6 and 10.   In the end, I felt like this was momentous enough that it warranted a visit and hopefully, the effects on the kids would be more positive than negative.   I say this because my first visit to Hiroshima was when I was only 14 years old and the power and memory of it is still with me today.   I remember it just as if it was yesterday.  

First, we visited the Atomic Bomb Dome.   This structure was one of the only structures left standing after the blast due to the fact that it was so close to the epicenter.   In other words, the sideways force of the bomb blew over every other building in the city but since this was almost directly below the bomb, it was left standing.

The Atomic Bomb Dome

Next, we visited the Children’s Peace Memorial.  It is a monument of peace to memorialize Sadako Sasaki and the memories of the children killed in Hiroshima.  Here, we heard the story of Sadako, who was dying from cancer caused from the radiation.   She thought that if she could fold 1,000 origami paper cranes, that she would be cured.  She did make it to her goal, but unfortunately, she died anyway.   Upon hearing this story, the output of support started coming in from every prefecture in Japan and around the world.  From everywhere, children and adults sent strings of origami cranes to the city of Hiroshima. Many of the cranes came with messages of support for the families as well as calls for world peace.  The sheer number of cranes on display is extremely moving.

Cranes on display

A prayer that everyone can get along well.

Sign made from folded cranes.

Peace to the World

From here, we walked through the beautiful Peace Memorial Park Area.    It was a sunny beautiful day and the tree-lined park along the Honkawa River was bright and lovely.   There is a Pond of Peace, The Monument of Prayer, and a Flame of Peace.  This flame which has burned continuously since it was lit in 1964 and will stay lit until all nuclear weapons have been destroyed and the planet is free from the threat of nuclear weapons.

And old man in prayer for peace. Note the Pond of Peace, the Flame of Peace and the Atomic Bomb dome all seen through this cenotaph.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was next.   It started with a powerful film on the bomb and its effects on the city.   Many times I wanted to take my children out of the room.   It might have been for their sake, or it might have been because I was looking for an escape myself.   But, I bit my tongue and hoped they would gleam from the movie what was important and appropriate for them.   I was glad we had seen the film as it allowed us to walk a little quicker through the very extensive museum buildings.    We were all moved by the museum, the kids were quiet, and the environment serene. 

Days since the bombing of Hiroshima.
Days since the last nuclear test.

But as I remembered from my last visit, the ongoing theme in Hiroshima continues to be focused on peace.   While we were all moved by the stories and the devastation, but I think we all left with the feeling that the past should never been repeated and all of us should be more focused on peace.

Caption on the cenotaph.