Sunday 11 november 2018
Hiroshima

We took a high-speed ferry from Matsuyama to Hiroshima. This heron was at the dock, waiting for a fisherman to toss small fish his way:

Once in the city, our first stop was the building referred to as the Atomic Dome, because of the parts of the structure that survived the attack on August 6, 1945:

It’s now a part of the Peace Memorial Park, which was moderately crowded with Sunday visitors. Hiroshima is (understandably) on a campaign to eliminate nuclear weapons, and at least one of the few remaining survivors is a very visible advocate:

At the end of a long pool is the cenotaph — which I had to look up to be sure — the empty tomb honoring the many thousands whose remains are elsewhere:

Although most of the Museum is under renovation, there’s plenty to see in the temporary/auxiliary space. Beyond this somber signage is a
powerful visual simulation of the city before, during, and after the blast. (The “during” is very short.) All around the room are photos of the destruction:

Almost all of the other displays are about the development of nuclear bombs and the horrors they wreak, with very grim photos and statistics.

And this is in a modern bustling city . . . ALL of which was built since 1945.

Very moving and impressive.