Hiroshima (Japan). August 6, 1945. Time 8.16 am. In the hullaballoo of World War II, the United States’ aircraft Enola Gay dropped an untested uranium-235 gun-assembly bomb over Hiroshima. Nicknamed Little Boy, it was world’s the first atomic bomb used in warfare. The port city was immediately charred. In the black smoke, the Hiroshima stared at falling bridges, crumbling buildings and thousands of naked men and women with skin dangling like rags off their bones. The bomb devastated Hiroshima within a 5 km radius and about 80,000 died that day. By December of 1945, 140,000-150,000 had died from their injuries and radiation sickness.
This August 6 marks the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima’s bombing.
Take a virtual tour of the city here.
Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome: The Industrial Promotion Hall of Hiroshima Prefecture was at the heart of the city’s commerce. But everything changed on August 6. At the time of the detonation, the explosion exerted 35 tonnes of pressure per square meter and created a fierce wind speed of 440 meters per second. The building that lay almost directly below the hypocentre of the bomb absorbed the powerful explosion and heat and then burst into flames. The inside of the building was completely destroyed by fire but curiously, the thick outer walls and the steel dome escaped complete destruction. The Industrial Promotion Hall is now usually referred to as the Atomic Bomb Dome.
Hiroshima Memorial Park: The current Peace Memorial Park was once an urban district with a population of nearly 6,500. On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb in history exploded directly over Nakajima district where in addition to the usual inhabitants, thousands of volunteer members of the army corps and students were in the area demolishing buildings for a line of fire. Almost all of these lives were extinguished when the entire district disappeared instantly. Designed by Kenzo Tange, a professor at the University of Tokyo, the Memorial Park now covers approximately 122,100 square meters.
Peace Memorial Museum: This Museum is not easy to walk through. A poignant reminder of the day and aftermath of the August 6 bombing, the main building displays artefacts and materials from the bomb that explain the aftermath of the bomb’s heat rays, explosion, radiation, and intense heat fires. Suggestive exhibits at the museum include a molten tricycle that a 4-year-old boy was riding during the explosion that charred him to death. There’s a wristwatch with its hands stuck at the actual time of bombing, a lunchbox belonging to a student who perished at school, melted glass and charred clothes that remind one of the horrors of the bombing. On July 5, 2006, the Main Building of the Peace Memorial Museum was designated as one of the important cultural assets of Japan.
Okunoshima Rabbit Island: Okunoshima, mostly known as The Island of Rabbits, has, well, a thousand rabbits roaming around in 700 square metre island. It is also known as a place to seek good fortune for fertility. Being the centre of chemical weapons research and production during World War II, Rabbit Island was completely erased from the map and workers on the island were sworn to secrecy. Some say that rabbits were released onto the island after the war to spot signs of poison gas leaks. Do not miss the Poison Gas Museum.
Live port cam which is updated every 1 minute is available here.
Miyajima Island: Located 20 km away from the city of Hiroshima, the real name of the island is Itsukushima (literally, island of worship). Since ancient times, the island itself was worshipped as a god. Within the region is millenary Shinto shrine Itsukushima-jinja, which is so important for Japan that the island was colloquially called Miyajima, meaning Sanctuary Island. Estimated to be founded in 593, the original 16-metre high door (O-Torii) seems to be floating in the water. The Itsukushima Shrine is now A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hiroshima Castle: With the aim of raising awareness about Hiroshima and its history, this national historic site was erected from the ruins in 1958. The castle was built in the image and likeness of the original and is now a museum with four floors of exhibits.
Good to know: Hiroshima virtual tour is available here.
Photo credits belong to the writer.
Preeti Verma Lal is a Goa-based freelance writer/photographer.
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