On the day of the atomic bomb -Mother and Child in the Storm-

The day of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima is approaching this year.


I myself would like to visit and learn the memorials, statues and heritage related to Peace Memorial Park again.

嵐の中の母子像 -Mother and Child in the Storm-

The mother is holding her baby with her right arm to protect her.

I wonder she is holding another child with her left arm so that she can not come off, or carry him?They hold on to their mother not to stay away from her.And the mother is leaning forward.It's a blast from the atomic bomb, a storm, but that can tell you the desperation of going forward, against the tragic cruelty of the war.

I think...,
Is this mother-child statue applicable only to the atomic bomb?
Even in places where Japan invaded in the war, Isn't the mother and child looking similar?Isn't the mother and child in war and conflict in the world still looking the same?

When I look up at this mother-child , I feel sorrowful.

The creator is Hongo Shin.In 1959, at the time of the 5th Atomic Bomb Ban World Congress, it was donated by the Atomic Bomb Ban Japan Council. At that time it was a plaster statue.Later, the Hiroshima City Women's Association allegedly raised money and donated the current bronze statue.

広島平和記念資料館(原爆資料館)
-Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum-

A museum that conveys the misery of the atomic bomb. There is behind the "Mother and Child in the Storm".It consists of the main building (designated as an important cultural property) and the east building.

In the "East Building", panels that explain the history of the war with photographs etc. are displayed.Basically, you can confirm the history, so you can visit with ease, but you should consider it as a preparation for visiting the "Main Building".

The value of the Atomic Bomb Museum is condensed in the Main Building.
I think it is meaningful to visit the Main Building, and the East Building is a　supplement.* In fact, at the beginning it was only the main building. The East Building has been added recently (although more than 20 years ago).

The main building displays photographs, dioramas, and actual objects that will make you look away.On display are photographs of people who was burned in their entire body, "Black Lunch Box", a relic of a student who was killed by the atomic bomb, and "Shadow Stone", in which the shadow of a person is stuck on the stairs with the heat rays of the atomic bomb.

In addition, life-size dolls wandering in the devastated land with the skin of the limbs melted and drooped by the high heat are also exhibited.

Before the East Building was established, the Atomic Bomb Museum seemed to have a strange atmosphere.In front of the doll, little childlen were crying and screaming in awe.I also remember the fear of my childhood.

Some of the exhibits are introduced on the following site.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum(East)

被爆したアオギリ -A-bombed Aogiri-

In the past, three Aogiri plants were planted at a communication station (currently China Post Office) about 1.5 km away from the hypocenter.At the time of the bombing, the blast and hot air of the atomic bomb burned and destroyed half of the trunk as well as the leaves.At the time of the atomic bombing, it was said that plants would not grow in Hiroshima for the next 75 years, but in the spring of the following year, sprout came out from these three deadly trees.

Aogiri, which survives the atomic bomb, geve hopes to people in despair.It was moved to the Peace Memorial Park site in 1973, but one has died and only two survive.

In the photo below, you can see that three bluebirds are planted.The left two Aogiri were bombed. The rightmost Aogiri is “A-bombed Aogiri II”.It seems that Aogiri II is now being sent nationwide as a "messenger of peace" and is being cherished.

You can see the new trunk covering the burnt trunk skin.

“A-bombed Aogiri” keeps to convey the terribleness of war and the preciousness of living.


⇒原爆の日 その他関連記事はこちら