I'd like you to pause to think about Nagasaki today. It's been 65 years since this city was the second to be destroyed by an atomic bomb. I was there 14 years ago for the 51st anniversary ceremony and, even though I couldn't understand it, I was quite moved by it all.
The Peace Park at Nagasaki is quite different to that at Hiroshima in that it is filled with statues from other countries who wish for peace. There is a shrine for the ashes of those who were affected phsyically by the bomb, known as hibakusha, and in the evening they have a ceremony with paper lanterns and candles, toro, whereby hundreds of people bring them to the river and they are tied together and floated down the river in hope of peace.
Nagasaki is a wonderful place to visit. You can see the remains of the Urakami Cathedral which was flattened, camphor trees and the one-legged torii. All remnants of the blast which serve as a reminder.
Maybe I could mention that my father-in-law lived in Kokura which was the intended target that day. If it hadn't been obscured by clouds my wife and son wouldn't be here today.
Showing posts with label atomic bomb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label atomic bomb. Show all posts
Monday, August 09, 2010
Friday, August 06, 2010
Remember Hiroshima
I visited Japan for the first time in 1996. On the 15th of July I went to Hiroshima - blog post from that day. Seeing the A-Bomb Dome, the Peace Park, Peace Bell, Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound, Children's Peace Monument and the Monument in Memory of Korean Victims was very moving and had a profound effect on me. It might be a bit tactless to say that the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum blew me away, but it did.
Up until my visit to Hiroshima I'd always thought that the Japanese had deserved to be bombed due to their hostilities in the Pacific and the fact that they wouldn't surrender. It appeared to be the only way to stop them and put an end to the war. After seeing Hiroshima myself I think a little differently. There were 140,000 innocent victims. Victims of a bloodthirsty, murderous, expansionist regime run by Emporer Hirohito. Hiroshima is one of the most amazing places that I've ever been too and I thoroughly recommend that people see it.
Remember Hiroshima. It's been 65 years and they're still calling for peace.
Up until my visit to Hiroshima I'd always thought that the Japanese had deserved to be bombed due to their hostilities in the Pacific and the fact that they wouldn't surrender. It appeared to be the only way to stop them and put an end to the war. After seeing Hiroshima myself I think a little differently. There were 140,000 innocent victims. Victims of a bloodthirsty, murderous, expansionist regime run by Emporer Hirohito. Hiroshima is one of the most amazing places that I've ever been too and I thoroughly recommend that people see it.
Remember Hiroshima. It's been 65 years and they're still calling for peace.
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