HIROSHIMA

YES! As emotional as this part of our trip was, it was my favourite place… it is a beautiful city and our visit to the Peace Memorial was something we will never forget! In Hiroshima you take a streetcar or a bus - no trains. The stories were gut wrenching, and the photos! Standing by the Atomic Bomb Domb, the only surviving structure, took my breathe away. Reading about S S and remembering that the story (play) used to be part of the grade seven social studies curriculum was also impactful. Additionally, our very first group of Japanese exchange students in 2013 included Kota - he stayed with a student of ours and on our trip to Kamikawa in 2014, Brayden stayed with his family. His grandmother made three origami sets of 1000 Cranes! One set was given to his host family,one set is hanging in the Christiansen Center and one set is on display at Pioneer Middle School (I think).

Another highlight was travelling by ferry to Miyajima Island and visiting the “floating shrine” Itsukushima! ! It isn’t floating! But - at high tide it totally looks like it is! Such a cooooool place!! We spent most of a day on the island! The deer (so small) just cruised around the island… they were everywhere!

Finally, as a last minute thing, we visited the Shukkeien Gardens… breathtaking!! And yes - Mark booked us another great hotel!

PS I added the article I wrote about SS for the Mountaineer at the end of this blog post. It will give some insight into the children who were impacted by the bomb.

SADAKO SASAKI: The Story of the Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima

The Children’s Peace Monument was built to commemorate Sadako Sasaki and the thousands of other innocent children who died due to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Standing in front of it last week was an emotional experience.

I wonder if anyone has heard the story of Sadako Sasaki?

She was 2 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. She seemed fine but after ten years, she fell ill with leukaemia. She spent 8 months in the hospital before she died. While she was there, she folded paper cranes (orizuru) to show her desire to get well. The story of Sadako and her paper cranes spread around the world. Today, Orizuru (paper cranes) are known as a symbol of peace.

Sadako’s classmates were saddened to lose their friend. They wanted to build some kind of monument for her. It was suggested to build a monument to console all the children who died from the atomic bombing. A movement was started and as it grew larger, it involved elementary, junior high and high schools in Hiroshima City. About a year after Sadako’s death, in October, it was decided to erect the monument in Peace Memorial Park.

On the stone underneath the pedestal is inscribed, “This is our cry. This is our prayer. For building peace in this world.” Nearly 10 million paper cranes are given each year from all over the world. The desire for hope of peace from all over the world is also delivered to Hiroshima with paper cranes.

PHOTOS

1. Many Japanese Students visiting the Peace Memorial

2. Hiroshima Peace Park

3. Memorial Flame at the Peace Park

4. Children’s Peace Monument

5. Children’s Peace Monument

6. Memorial Tower of Immobilized Students

7. National Peace Memorial for Victims of the Atomic Bomb

8. Atomic Bomb Domb

9. Atomic Bomb Dome

10. Hotel

11. Hotel

12. Miyajima Island

13. Miyajima Island

14. Miyajima Island

15. Itsukushima Shrine

16. Itsukushima Shrine

17. Itsukushima Shrine

18. Itsukushima Shrine

19. Itsukushima Shrine

20. Deer - Kim

21. Deer - Mark

22. Patio Bar on Miyajima Island

23. Shukkeien Gardens

24. Shukkeien Gardens

25. Shukkeien Gardens

26. Shukkeien Gardens

27. Shukkeien Gardens

28. Shukkeien Gardens

29. Shukkeien Gardens

30. Shukkeien Gardens

31. Shukkeien Gardens

32. Shukkeien Gardens

33. View of Hiroshima

34. View of Hiroshima

35. View of Hiroshima