1. Hiroshima Peace Memorial City
Construction Law-Aug 6, 1949
A “special law” under Article 95 of the Constitution
Promotes Hiroshima’s recovery after its destruction by the
atomic bomb
The law “aims at the construction of Hiroshima as a Peace
Memorial City, a symbol of the ideal of making lasting peace
a reality.”
Reconstruction projects could move forward with grants of
money and property formerly owned by military.

2. Bell of Peace--1949
Original bell was taken by military during World
War II. Empty bell tower was among very few
wooden structures to survive A-bomb on August 6,
1945. Replacement "Bell of Peace" installed in
1949 hanging under a beam cracked by the A-
bomb blast.

3. Peace Memorial Park—1952
In 1949, with enactment of the Hiroshima
Peace Memorial City Construction Law, it was
decided that the entire Nakajima District
would be devoted to "peace memorial
facilities.”
The park covers approximately 122,100 square
meters.
It was designed by Kenzo Tange, a professor at
Tokyo University.

4. Peace Memorial Park--today
“Memorial Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace.”
Inscribed "Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall
not repeat the evil." "The stone chest in the center holds the
registry of the names of persons who died from the
bombing, regardless of nationality.

5. Peace Bridge--1953
The railings of Heiwa-ohashi Bridge and Nishi-heiwa-
ohashi Bridge, just east of Peace Memorial Park. were
designed by world-renowned Japanese-American
sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Bridge rails were designed to
resemble the rising sun

6. Peace Boulevard/Heiwa Odori--1953
Constructed based on the "Hiroshima Peace
Memorial City Construction Plan" enacted in 1952.
The major elements of the street are four traffic lanes
in the middle and two green belts on each side.
The green belts extend about 4 km.
Most of the trees planted on the green belts were
presented by the people around Hiroshima between
1957 and 1958.

7. Peace Memorial Museum-1955
In September 1949, "the A-bomb Reference Material Display
Room" was established in the Hiroshima City Central
Community Center. This was the start of the public display of
atomic bomb materials.
Under the "Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction
Law," which was promulgated that year, the Peace Memorial
Hall was opened in June 1955 and the Peace Memorial
Museum in August 1955.
On July 5, 2006, the Main Building of the Peace Memorial
Museum was designated one of the important cultural assets of
Japan. This is the first cultural asset from among buildings
constructed in the post war period.

8. Children’s Peace Monument-- 1958

9. A-bomb Dome as Icon-1
Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Exhibition Hall, 1945

10. A-bomb Dome as Icon-2
Front view Back view

11. Why do Japanese come to Hiroshima?
Bus tours: Peace Park, Miyajima, okonomiyaki
Teachers choose school trips, but Hiroshima,
Nagasaki and Okinawa are “important”
Elementary school moral education: peace
starts at home and school (ijime)

12. Why do foreigners come to Hiroshima?
Hiroshima as pilgrimage site
Hiroshima as historical site
Hiroshima as “dark tourism”
(“Dark tourism is the act of travel and visitation to sites, attractions and exhibitions
which have real or recreated death, suffering or the seemingly macabre as a
main theme.”)

13. From Kenzaburo Oe’s Hiroshima Diary

14. International responses to Hiroshima
Smithsonian Institution’s Enola Gay exhibition
2011 Ceremony—U.S. Deputy chief to attend both
Hiroshima and Nagasaki ceremonies
Paul Tibbett’s son’s response: “unsaid apology”
Pres. Truman’s grandson, Clifton Daniel/Sadako’s brother

15. Hiroshima as Artistic Inspiration
Hibakusha poets, writers
Hadashi no Gen (Barefoot Gen) manga
Yunagi no Machi Sakura no Kuni manga
Non-hibakusha writers
Kenzaburo Oe: Hiroshima Notes
Masuji Ibuse: Black Rain
Ryuzo Saki: Mushroom Boy

16. Hiroshima in Film
Genbaku no Ko (Children of Hiroshima) (1952)
Hiroshima (1953)
Hadashi no Gen 1, 2, 3 (film) (1976, 1977, 1980)
Hadashi no Gen 1 & 2 (anime) (1983,2008)
Kuroi Ame (Black Rain) (1989)
Kagami no Onnatachi (Women in the Mirror) (2002)
Chichi no Kuraseba (Living with Father) (2005)
Yunagi no Machi Sakura no Kuni (Town of Evening Calm; Country of
Cherry blossoms) (2007)
White Light/ Black Rain (2007)
Ground Zero (2008)

17. Hiroshima as Peace Branding
お好み焼き＆鉄板焼 Ｐｅａｃｅ！（ピース） (Okonomiyaki shop)
EACE （ お好み焼き (Okonomiyaki shop)
ｅａｃｅお好み焼き (Okonomiyaki shop)
reen peace/ （美容院） 横川駅 パーマ メンズ (Beauty salon)
AIR PRO PEACE ( Beauty salon)
EACE NOW (Gothic & Lolita style ) (Youth fashion clothing shop)
ar_2PEACE (Bar in Nagano run by former resident of Hiroshima)