Hiroshima
World Tour of 2013
With Brigit and Sophia (Sonya)
Hiroshima, Japan March 18, 2013
During our one night's passage to Hiroshima, we navigate through the scenic "Akashi" Narrow, and then the "Bisanesto" and "Kurushima Straits" before entering the Hiroshima harbour.
While this city of 1.6 million has been completely rebuilt with the most modern of structures, what we see and experience here is most certainly influenced by the events of August 6, 1945. At 8:15 a.m. on that fateful day, the name Hiroshima became forever etched into the collective psyche of mankind. Hiroshima strives to remind one and all of the destructive implications of nuclear weapons.
We begin with a stop at the Atomic Bomb Dome. The old Industry Promotion Hall was one of the few buildings near Ground Zero to survive the blast, although its dome was vaporized. Renamed, its gutted walls and skeletal dome structure stand as mute icons and powerful symbols of a weapon's destructive force. Hopefully, never to be used again.
Next we arrive at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to world peace,
to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims (of whom there may have been as many as 140,000).
Providing a glimpse of a brighter future is the Children's Peace Monument, also called the "Tower of a Thousand Cranes."
The origin of the monument can be traced back more than four decades. The statue depicts a young girl who died from leukemia caused by atomic radiation. The girl believed that if she folded 1,000 origami cranes -- the cranes symbolizes long life -- she would be cured. Her death inspired a campaign to build the monument. Approximately 10 million paper cranes are offered each year at the site.
One of the key sites in the park is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. We tour the museum and see exhibits, videos and items that survived the bombing. The scope of destruction is beyond imagination.
In pouring rain we continue on to Shukkeien Gardens, a name that translates in Japanese to "shrink scenery gardens." Modeled after a landscape in Hangzhou, China, a feudal lord named Asano had the gardens built in 1620. It features stunning miniature landscapes of forests, valleys and mountains. Carrying umbrellas we walk through the garden grounds on pathways and over bridges, winding our way to a pond with an oasis of tea houses and waterfalls.
Before we sail away Hiroshima, the skis clear, the sun comes out and the city shines once again after a day of "tears of rain". Prayers are given to release any trapped souls that were still suspended between worlds outside of time. Note: Hiroshima was the only port we've been where it has rained.
On board ship we relax and sit back as we reflect on a full day of emotional events. We sail away into the sunset and hope to return to beautiful Japan and it's people again someday.
Lots of love to you all!
Talk to you soon. Love, Brigit and Sophia
World Tour of 2013
With Brigit and Sophia (Sonya)
Hiroshima, Japan March 18, 2013
During our one night's passage to Hiroshima, we navigate through the scenic "Akashi" Narrow, and then the "Bisanesto" and "Kurushima Straits" before entering the Hiroshima harbour.
While this city of 1.6 million has been completely rebuilt with the most modern of structures, what we see and experience here is most certainly influenced by the events of August 6, 1945. At 8:15 a.m. on that fateful day, the name Hiroshima became forever etched into the collective psyche of mankind. Hiroshima strives to remind one and all of the destructive implications of nuclear weapons.
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| Arriving Hiroshima in the morning |
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| A day of pouring rain ("tears of rain" for the victims of the bomb) we set out to discover Hiroshima's history. |
Atomic Bomb Dome
We begin with a stop at the Atomic Bomb Dome. The old Industry Promotion Hall was one of the few buildings near Ground Zero to survive the blast, although its dome was vaporized. Renamed, its gutted walls and skeletal dome structure stand as mute icons and powerful symbols of a weapon's destructive force. Hopefully, never to be used again.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Next we arrive at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to world peace,
to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims (of whom there may have been as many as 140,000).
Providing a glimpse of a brighter future is the Children's Peace Monument, also called the "Tower of a Thousand Cranes."
The origin of the monument can be traced back more than four decades. The statue depicts a young girl who died from leukemia caused by atomic radiation. The girl believed that if she folded 1,000 origami cranes -- the cranes symbolizes long life -- she would be cured. Her death inspired a campaign to build the monument. Approximately 10 million paper cranes are offered each year at the site.
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| Sophia rings Bell of Peace |
One of the key sites in the park is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. We tour the museum and see exhibits, videos and items that survived the bombing. The scope of destruction is beyond imagination.
 |
| Hiroshima in 1937, before the bomb was dropped |
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| Hiroshima after the bomb was dropped |
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| Before August 6, 1945 |
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| After August 6, 1945 |
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| Peace Watch Tower |
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| Notice of the most recent nuclear test |
In pouring rain we continue on to Shukkeien Gardens, a name that translates in Japanese to "shrink scenery gardens." Modeled after a landscape in Hangzhou, China, a feudal lord named Asano had the gardens built in 1620. It features stunning miniature landscapes of forests, valleys and mountains. Carrying umbrellas we walk through the garden grounds on pathways and over bridges, winding our way to a pond with an oasis of tea houses and waterfalls.
 |
| Soaked through and through yet feeling satisfied, we leave the Shukkeien Gardens |
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| Back at the pier we present our lovely Japanese tour guide, MeEcho (ph) a crystal heart in the name of love and peace |
Before we sail away Hiroshima, the skis clear, the sun comes out and the city shines once again after a day of "tears of rain". Prayers are given to release any trapped souls that were still suspended between worlds outside of time. Note: Hiroshima was the only port we've been where it has rained.
On board ship we relax and sit back as we reflect on a full day of emotional events. We sail away into the sunset and hope to return to beautiful Japan and it's people again someday.
Lots of love to you all!
Talk to you soon. Love, Brigit and Sophia
*****
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