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Hiroshima, Japan (September 2012)

Hiroshima attained notoriety on Monday, August 6, 1945, when a U.S. B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped an atomic bomb, "Little Boy" on the city. Up until then, Hiroshima had been mostly untouched during World War II. That is one reason why it was chosen, so that the effects of the first atomic bombing could be tested. Possible targets for the first atomic bombing were: Hiroshima, Kokura, Nagasaki, and Niigata. Hiroshima had the misfortune of having had clear weather that day, thus, it was chosen for the bombing. At 8:15 am on that fateful morning, the bomb exploded 1,900 feet above the city. Approximately 70,000 died immediately from the explosion (within five years, another 70,000 died from radiation). For those who survived the initial blast, it was like being in hell on earth with scorched bodies in the incinerated, smoldering city. On that day, began the nuclear age. Since then, Hiroshima has been rebuilt, and it is, again, a beautiful city. It was proclaimed a City of Peace by the Japanese parliament in 1949, and that same year, a design was selected for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The city government continues to advocate the abolition of all nuclear weapons. May the city serve as a constant reminder of the terror of nuclear weapons, so that the horrors of the Hiroshima bombing are never repeated.
Hiroshima, Japan Photo Travelogue cover page.
Hiroshima, Japan Photo Travelogue cover page.		 Map of Japan with the star indicating Hiroshima.
Map of Japan with the star indicating Hiroshima.		 View of the A-Bomb Dome, which is the ruins from the August 6, 1945 atomic bombing of the Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall.
View of the A-Bomb Dome, which is the ruins from the August 6, 1945 atomic bombing of the Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall.		 Side view of the A-Bomb Dome. Because the bomb blast was almost directly above the dome, some of the walls remained standing.
Side view of the A-Bomb Dome. Because the bomb blast was almost directly above the dome, some of the walls remained standing.
This is what the A-Bomb Dome looked like before the atomic bombing. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.
This is what the A-Bomb Dome looked like before the atomic bombing. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.		 The Aioi Bridge, which traverses the Ota River.
The Aioi Bridge, which traverses the Ota River.		 Memorial statues in front of the Ota River, the main river that flows through Hiroshima.
Memorial statues in front of the Ota River, the main river that flows through Hiroshima.		 Pedestrian path along the river.
Pedestrian path along the river.
Ota River with the Aioi Bridge in the background.
Ota River with the Aioi Bridge in the background.		 Panels memorializing student workers who were killed in the atomic blast.
Panels memorializing student workers who were killed in the atomic blast.		 Students in Hiroshima went to work in factories to contribute to the war effort.
Students in Hiroshima went to work in factories to contribute to the war effort.		 Young women working on sewing machines.
Young women working on sewing machines.
Young men in a manufacturing plant.
Young men in a manufacturing plant.		 A angel with wings statue in memory of those who died at Hiroshima.
A angel with wings statue in memory of those who died at Hiroshima.		 Close-up of the statue.
Close-up of the statue. 		Colorful peace cranes, which are for sale, are a powerful symbol of Hiroshima.
Colorful peace cranes, which are for sale, are a powerful symbol of Hiroshima.
Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students over the angel with wings statue.
Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students over the angel with wings statue.		 Another bridge that traverses the Oti River.
Another bridge that traverses the Oti River.		 View from the bridge.
View from the bridge.		 The A-bomb Dome in the background.
The A-bomb Dome in the background.
These adorable Japanese school girls were on an outing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
These adorable Japanese school girls were on an outing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.		 They wore school uniforms, with green or pink hats.
They wore school uniforms, with green or pink hats.		 Close-up of the school girls. They were very well behaved.
Close-up of the school girls. They were very well behaved.		 Teachers who were chaperoning the girls.
Teachers who were chaperoning the girls.
The girls looked like they were in kindergarden, aged about 5 or 6.
The girls looked like they were in kindergarden, aged about 5 or 6.		 The Hiroshima Bell of Peace.
The Hiroshima Bell of Peace.		 The bell is a symbol of the aspiration of the people of Hiroshima that all nuclear weapons should be eliminated.
The bell is a symbol of the aspiration of the people of Hiroshima that all nuclear weapons should be eliminated.		 The bell was dedicated on September 20, 1964.
The bell was dedicated on September 20, 1964.
Me ringing the Bell of Peace.
Me ringing the Bell of Peace.		 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park lantern.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park lantern.		 The Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound is a grass-covered knoll that contains the ashes of 70,000 unidentified victims of the bomb.
The Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound is a grass-covered knoll that contains the ashes of 70,000 unidentified victims of the bomb.		 Cenotaph (empty tomb) in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-Bomb.
Cenotaph (empty tomb) in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-Bomb.
Among the 400,000 people who were killed or exposed to lethal post-explosion radiation, at least 45,000 were Korean.
Among the 400,000 people who were killed or exposed to lethal post-explosion radiation, at least 45,000 were Korean.		 The monument, with Korean national symbols, honors Korean victims and survivors of the atomic bomb and of Japanese colonialism.
The monument, with Korean national symbols, honors Korean victims and survivors of the atomic bomb and of Japanese colonialism.		 View of the Children's Peace Monument to commemorate the thousands of child victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
View of the Children's Peace Monument to commemorate the thousands of child victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.		 Sadako Sasaki, one of the child bombing victims, is immortalized at the top of the statue, holding a crane.
Sadako Sasaki, one of the child bombing victims, is immortalized at the top of the statue, holding a crane.
The monument was built with money from a fund-raising campaign by Japanese school children, including Sadako's classmates.
The monument was built with money from a fund-raising campaign by Japanese school children, including Sadako's classmates.		 Our excellent tour guide, Mary, who showed us around Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Our excellent tour guide, Mary, who showed us around Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. 		Modern concrete design at the end of the Hiroshima Pond of Peace.
Modern concrete design at the end of the Hiroshima Pond of Peace. 		The Memorial Cenotaph (empty tomb) that holds the names of all of the people killed by the bomb.
The Memorial Cenotaph (empty tomb) that holds the names of all of the people killed by the bomb.
The cenotaph carries the epitaph, please rest in peace, for [we/they] shall not repeat the error.
The cenotaph carries the epitaph, "please rest in peace, for [we/they] shall not repeat the error."		 The epitaph is controversial, having been interpreted by some right-wing circles in Japan as an admission of guilt.
The epitaph is controversial, having been interpreted by some right-wing circles in Japan as an admission of guilt.		 The A-Bomb Dome is perfectly framed in the center of the cenotaph.
The A-Bomb Dome is perfectly framed in the center of the cenotaph.		 View of the main building of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to educating visitors about the bomb.
View of the main building of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to educating visitors about the bomb.
Clock in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum showing the time and date of the atomic bombing.
Clock in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum showing the time and date of the atomic bombing.		 Photo showing the devastation in Hiroshima, including the remains of Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall (now the A-bomb Dome).
Photo showing the devastation in Hiroshima, including the remains of Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall (now the A-bomb Dome).		 Composite photo of the destruction after the atomic bombing.
Composite photo of the destruction after the atomic bombing.		 Model of what Hiroshima looked like before it was destroyed.
Model of what Hiroshima looked like before it was destroyed.
Model of what was left of Hiroshima after the atomic bomb.
Model of what was left of Hiroshima after the atomic bomb.		 Since WWII, Japan has been a non-nuclear country. This globe in the museum shows all the world countries with nuclear weapons.
Since WWII, Japan has been a non-nuclear country. This globe in the museum shows all the world countries with nuclear weapons.		 First photo that was taken after the bombing showing burned people. By December 1945, 140,000 people died because of the bomb.
First photo that was taken after the bombing showing burned people. By December 1945, 140,000 people died because of the bomb.

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