Facets of Hiroshima 2012 - PART II

Second Anniversary—Aug. 6, 1947

April, 1947 - First Post-War Election: Shinso Hamai was elected mayor by popular vote.

Mayor Hamai established the Hiroshima Peace Festival Association (Mayor’s Office, Chamber of Commerce, NHK Hiroshima) and decided to hold a Peace Festival on August 6 every year to demonstrate the “Spirit of Hiroshima.”

(The generic name of this ceremony had been the 'Peace Memorial Ceremony' since 1965. However, its name was changed to 'Peace Memorial Ceremony' in 1975.

Second Anniversary—Aug. 6, 1947

City declared August 6 declared an official holiday

Two main events: 1) Peace Ceremony and Memorial Service 2) Peace Festival plus side-events

Mayor rang Peace Bell brought from Etajima Naval Academy and read Peace Declaration

Camphor trees planted; doves released

Peace Festival sponsored costume parade, floats, stages for song and dance (Chamber of Commerce wanted a festive atmosphere to revive economy)

Mayor Hamai reads Peace Declaration

Note from Gen. MacArthur Aug 6, 1947

“The atomic bomb has given a new meaning to war. The suffering of Hiroshima serves as a warning to all people everywhere. That is to say, a warning that the ability to harness the power of nature for war will quickly develop until we have the power to annihilate humankind and destroy all its structures. Please God, do not let us ignore this warning.”

Emperor Showa Visits Hiroshima December, 1947

Third anniversary—Aug. 6, 1948

Mayor Hamai’s Peace Declaration: 'We pray in sincerity that there may never be another Hiroshima in any part of the world,” written on the Peace Tower in huge letters.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law-Aug 6, 1949

A “special law” under Article 95 of the Constitution

Designed to promote 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.”

Made all reconstruction plans a part of Peace Memorial City Construction Plan.

Reconstruction projects could move forward with grants of money and property formerly owned by military.

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.

Peace Memorial Park—1952In 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.

Peace Memorial Park-2

Peace Memorial Park--today

“Memorial Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace.”Inscribed "Let all the souls here rest in peace,

for we shallnot repeat the evil." "The stone chest in the center

holds theregistry of the names of persons who died from thebombing, regardless of nationality.

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.

Peace Memorial Bridge, detail

Bridge rails were designed to resemble the rising sun

Peace Boulevard/Heiwa Odori

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.

Children’s Peace Monument-- 1958