Hiroshima is famous to the World as the target for the first nuclear weapon attack in history during World War Two.
It is a splendid city to visit but one in which the
memory of  6th August 1945 is always with you.
The visitor centre is one of the most appropriate buildings
one could ever visit. A haunting melody remains with the author to this day.
The Atomic Bomb destroyed the city and killed  80,000 people.


This photograph shows the Atomic Dome.
This is the only building still remaining in the city from before the bomb.
The city was chosen from three targets because the skies above happened to be clear that morning.


Miyako's testimony 
Miyako was 12 years old on August 6th 1945 and was therefore 63 on 3/4/97.
She was in school and was one of only 50 out of 250 who survived. She was blown 5 metres away
from her friend and was laid flat and unconscious on the floor.
She had used her hands to protect her eyes and all the skin peeled off them. Her clothes were
burned off her body and she felt a desperate need to reach water.
She managed to eventually reach a river and remembers seeing horrendous sights of for example.
people with intestines hanging loose. It took 2 months for Miyako's face to recover
and 8 months for her legs to heal. In 1953, aged 20, she had a series of operations.
As a result of her experience Miyako has devoted her life to Nuclear Eradication.



The City of Hiroshima Peace Declaration( an extract from 6th August 1996 )
No matter how many months and years may pass, the memory of Hiroshima lives on in our
hearts. Now more than half a century since that cataclysm, the world still faces the threat of
nuclear weapons. Yet we refuse to abandon hope and will continue to argue that humanity
cannot co-exist with nuclear weapons.



Today Hiroshima is a modern city.
The photograph below shows part of the Mazda Car Factory by the shoreline. Mazda are one of a
number of Japanese car producers who export and indeed manufacture across the globe.

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Miyajima

Miyajima is a small island off the coast near Hiroshima. It is said to be one of the best
three scenic tourist attractions in Japan. A ferry is the usual means of reaching this island
which is in the Inland Sea.
The highest  point on Miyajima is Mount Misen, 530 metres above sea level. It is
reached by cable car and is considered to be sacred and an area for worship.  Buddhist
temples are found near the summit as well as lots of wild monkeys.


The Grand Gate O-Torii
One of the most famous places to visit in Japan
'The Itsukushima Shrine' has a 'Tori Gate'close by it.
This stands in the sea looking even more majestic at high tide than this picture shows.
Torii Gates mark the entrance to the shrine. The bright colour is known as vermilion.
   

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