Hiroshima and sayonara Japan--until next time

On Sunday, we visited Hiroshima (we had to postpone our previously scheduled visit due to the typhoon). We actually visited 2 different places--Miyajima Island  in Hiroshima Bay, and the site of the 1945 atomic bombing.

Miyajima is familiar to many because of the iconic torii gate that stands in the water, in front of Itsukushima-jinja (shrine).

Miyajima is a lively, colorful place and like Nara, has (aggressive) deer running free.

As you might imagine, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the site of the atomic bomb blast in 1945, has a very different feel--quiet and somber.

The Peace Memorial consists of a large grassy and tree-filled park, with specific memorials scattered throughout, and a museum.  As the name of the park implies, it is dedicated to world peace and to assure that nuclear weapons are never used again.

Memorial to children who died and statue of Sadako, a teenage girl who developed radiation-induced leukemia and thought if she made 1000 origami cranes she would be saved.

The target for the bomb was a bridge crossing 2 intersecting rivers

and everything in the vicinity was either immediately vaporized or burned.  One building at the hypocenter, just next to the confluent rivers,  has been preserved and is called the Atomic Bomb Dome.

Survivors or families of survivors were on-site, willing to tell their stories.

The Centotaph, with its eternal flame, has the names of the approximately 140,000 people who died.

The museum provides fairly detailed history of the events that led to WWII (the Pacific War as it is called in Japan) and the ultimate bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  The presentation is, I think pretty well balanced, with the focus on the huge loss of life on both sides.  The rest of the museum provides pretty graphic detail of the aftermath of the bombing, both on buildings but especially on people. There are many graphic photos of burned people and shadows of the image of vaporized people burned into concrete. Regardless of one's political views or thoughts about WWII and the decision to use atomic weapons at that time, it is impossible to not be moved by what is presented.

Sadako did not survive

Our last day in Japan

was our sayonara party held by our Kobe Gakuin University faculty and student hosts.

We ate and drank

watched a shamisen performance and tea ceremony

and exchanged gifts.

Finally, it was time to say goodbye.

You may be wondering, why a blog post that talks about Hiroshima and a sayonara party, seemingly unrelated topics.  I have visited Hiroshima several times, and I always come away wondering why there is so much chaos, hate and violence in the world.  While I'm pragmatic enough to understand the causes of wars, we all need to ask "Does it have to be this way?". Seventy years ago, Japan and America were at war, with millions of lives lost.  It seems to be human nature for us to mistrust and hate those whom we don't understand. While Japanese and American cultures are very different, my feeling and belief is that regardless of our race, religion, ethnicity or beliefs, people largely want the same things out of our lives--to be happy, to create a better future for our children and to make our mark on the world.  Perhaps if we reach out and do more of this

we will be ok.

I'm very proud of the 14 students who joined me on this trip.  You represented your university and your country very well.  I hope the experiences you had and the relationships you formed will be life-long. Over the last ten days, you have made the world a slightly better place.

Japan, until next time (October for me)

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