Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law-Aug 6, 1949

A “special law” under Article 95 of the Constitution

Promotes Hiroshima’s recovery after its destruction by the atomic bomb

The law “aims at the construction of Hiroshima as a Peace Memorial City, a symbol of the ideal of making lasting peace a reality.”

Reconstruction projects could move forward with grants of money and property formerly owned by military.

Bell of Peace--1949

Original bell was taken by military during World War II. Empty bell tower was among very few wooden structures to survive A-bomb on August 6, 1945. Replacement "Bell of Peace" installed in 1949 hanging under a beam cracked by the A-bomb blast.

Peace Memorial Park—1952In 1949, with enactment of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law, it was decided that the entire Nakajima District would be devoted to "peace memorial facilities.”

The park covers approximately 122,100 square meters.

It was designed by Kenzo Tange, a professor at Tokyo University.

Peace Memorial Park--today

“Memorial Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace.”Inscribed "Let all the souls here rest in peace,

for we shallnot repeat the evil." "The stone chest in the center

holds theregistry of the names of persons who died from thebombing, regardless of nationality.

Peace Bridge--1953

The railings of Heiwa-ohashi Bridge and Nishi-heiwa-ohashi Bridge, just east of Peace Memorial Park. were designed by world-renowned Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Bridge rails were designed to resemble the rising sun

Peace Boulevard/Heiwa Odori--1953

Constructed based on the "Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Plan" enacted in 1952.

The major elements of the street are four traffic lanes in the middle and two green belts on each side.

The green belts extend about 4 km.

Most of the trees planted on the green belts were presented by the people around Hiroshima between 1957 and 1958.

Peace Memorial Museum-1955

In September 1949, "the A-bomb Reference Material Display Room" was established in the Hiroshima City Central Community Center. This was the start of the public display of atomic bomb materials.

Under the "Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law," which was promulgated that year, the Peace Memorial Hall was opened in June 1955 and the Peace Memorial Museum in August 1955.

On July 5, 2006, the Main Building of the Peace Memorial Museum was designated one of the important cultural assets of Japan. This is the first cultural asset from among buildings constructed in the post war period.

Children’s Peace Monument-- 1958

A-bomb Dome as Icon-1

Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Exhibition Hall, 1945

A-bomb Dome as Icon-2

Front view Back view

Why do Japanese come to Hiroshima?

Bus tours: Peace Park, Miyajima, okonomiyaki

Teachers choose school trips, but Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa are “important”

Elementary school moral education: peace starts at home and school (ijime)

Why do foreigners come to Hiroshima?

Hiroshima as pilgrimage site

Hiroshima as historical site

Hiroshima as “dark tourism”(“Dark tourism is the act of travel and visitation to sites, attractions and exhibitions

which have real or recreated death, suffering or the seemingly macabre as a main theme.”)

From Kenzaburo Oe’s Hiroshima Diary

International responses to Hiroshima

Smithsonian Institution’s Enola Gay exhibition

2011 Ceremony—U.S. Deputy chief to attend both Hiroshima and Nagasaki ceremonies

Paul Tibbett’s son’s response: “unsaid apology”

Pres. Truman’s grandson, Clifton Daniel/Sadako’s brother

Hiroshima as Artistic Inspiration

Hibakusha poets, writers

Hadashi no Gen (Barefoot Gen) manga

Yunagi no Machi Sakura no Kuni manga

Non-hibakusha writersKenzaburo Oe: Hiroshima NotesMasuji Ibuse: Black RainRyuzo Saki: Mushroom Boy

Hiroshima in FilmGenbaku no Ko (Children of Hiroshima) (1952)

Hiroshima (1953)

Hadashi no Gen 1, 2, 3 (film) (1976, 1977, 1980)

Hadashi no Gen 1 & 2 (anime) (1983,2008)

Kuroi Ame (Black Rain) (1989)

Kagami no Onnatachi (Women in the Mirror) (2002)

Chichi no Kuraseba (Living with Father) (2005)

Yunagi no Machi Sakura no Kuni (Town of Evening Calm; Country of Cherry blossoms) (2007)

White Light/ Black Rain (2007)

Ground Zero (2008)

Hiroshima as Peace Branding

お好み焼き＆鉄板焼　Ｐｅａｃｅ！（ピース） (Okonomiyaki shop)

PEACE （ お好み焼き (Okonomiyaki shop)

Ｐｅａｃｅお好み焼き (Okonomiyaki shop)

green peace/ （美容院） 横川駅 パーマ メンズ (Beauty salon)　

HAIR PRO PEACE ( Beauty salon)

PEACE NOW (Gothic & Lolita style ) (Youth fashion clothing shop)

bar_2PEACE (Bar in Nagano run by former resident of Hiroshima)

ペットショップ fun wan peace (Pet store)

studio THREE PEACE - 広島県 出張 売り専 - Gclick (Gay bar)

Peace Hotel (Hotel)