Hypocenter Park, Nagasaki
On the plaque:
When considering the present prosperity and peace of Japan and the development of Nagasaki, we must never forget the fact that about 70% of the victims of the Nagasaki atomic bomb, which exploded over this city at 11:02 a.m., August 9, 1945, were children, women and senior citizens.
Created by Nagasaki-born sculptor Naoki Tominaga, this monument expresses the horror of the atomic bombing, prays for the repose of the souls of the victims from whose noble sacrifice the buds of peace grew, and -- though the form of a stricken child sleeping in her mother's warm embrace -- reaches with great motherly compassion and pleas for eternal peace toward a prosperous Japan of the 21st century.
Embodied in the monument is the sculptor's reminder that the child is like Japan on the day of the atomic bombing, while the mother represents the support provided by the countries of the world in Japan's efforts to build the peaceful nation that it has become today.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing, the hypocenter area was refurbished and designated as a "prayer zone" a place to pray for the repose of the atomic bomb victims, to inform the world about the horror of the atomic bombing and to appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons and for the realization of lasting world peace.
This monument was erected here as the "Atomic Bombing 50th Anniversary Commemorative Projects Monument" to enchance and strengthen the hypocenter area's role as a "prayer zone" and a hub of world peace.
Created by Nagasaki-born sculptor Naoki Tominaga, this monument expresses the horror of the atomic bombing, prays for the repose of the souls of the victims from whose noble sacrifice the buds of peace grew, and -- though the form of a stricken child sleeping in her mother's warm embrace -- reaches with great motherly compassion and pleas for eternal peace toward a prosperous Japan of the 21st century.
Embodied in the monument is the sculptor's reminder that the child is like Japan on the day of the atomic bombing, while the mother represents the support provided by the countries of the world in Japan's efforts to build the peaceful nation that it has become today.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing, the hypocenter area was refurbished and designated as a "prayer zone" a place to pray for the repose of the atomic bomb victims, to inform the world about the horror of the atomic bombing and to appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons and for the realization of lasting world peace.
This monument was erected here as the "Atomic Bombing 50th Anniversary Commemorative Projects Monument" to enchance and strengthen the hypocenter area's role as a "prayer zone" and a hub of world peace.
Mayor of Nagasaki
July 1997
July 1997
This memorial monolith marks the exact point below the center of the atomic bomb explosion which took place 500 meters above it.
And this fountain is in nearby Peace Park. I regrettably did not get a picture of the famous statue.I anticipated feeling sad. What I didn't know was that the peaceful nature of both Hypocenter Park and Peace Park would speak to me so strongly. I'm really glad I went.
posted by Gina Black at 1:41 PM
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5 Comments:
I go away for a LONG while and what do you do? You go and get PUBLISHED! How DARE you! :-)
Tanya
It's truly amazing to see the beauty and serenity of Nagasaki when one would expect bleak desolation. It's been over 60 years, but it's incredible that they've rebuilt it to be such an inspirational site.
Ditto what Tanya said!
*scurries off to read back posts*
Tanya! You're back. What can I say, you gotta keep up, babe. ;)
Ellen -- the bomb went off over a suburb (Urakami) that's north of the city center. There was total destruction in that area, but the rest of Nagasaki survived. It's a fascinating city because for centuries it was the only part of Japan that had any connection with the western world, first the Portuguese and then the Dutch.
Erica--I have got to do a better job of promoting myself, eh? And I guess I should write more about the publishing progress. :)
(um that should have been proCESS)
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