HIROSHIMA: A DAY OF REMEMBERING...

When I decided to finally book this trip to Japan, there is one place that I would not dare miss for the world. -HIROSHIMA!

It is the site of the very first atomic bomb attack on August 06, 1945.

I have learned about this in High School and ever since, I've got my eyes set on visiting this place,

The opportunity came on our Second day in Japan.

From Shin-Osaka, we boarded a SHINKANSEN ( Bullet Train) that would bring us to Hiroshima.

Shinkansens are awesome.  They are like airplanes only they are not flying. Hehe
You could get to far places in such a small amount of time.
I wish we have that here in the Philippines.
Imagine a trip from Manila to Tuguegarao which would normally take 12-14 hours by Bus, it is just going to be three hours (or less) via these Bullet Trains.  Hanep di ba?

The Shinkansen Central Gate is literally a few steps from our Hotel.
Talk about strategic location, eh?

The way leading to the Platforms are clearly marked making it impossible for one to get lost.

Our train is arriving soon!

Transportation in Japan is very efficient.
Trains (as do buses and ferries) arrive and leave as scheduled.

There goes our speedy train!

This is how it looks like inside.

The seats are soft yet firm, the legroom is sufficient and best of all, it was squeaky clean!

Food is available inside too.

Coffee anyone?  Naku, tulog na tulog pa si Sir. Hehe

I have not fully enjoyed the ride and already, we were at our destination. Pffft.

Notice the signs.  They are everywhere!  Very Tourist friendly.

On our way out, we saw many students on a field trip.

Naturally, Hiroshima is the center of History in Japan.

They look so cute!

We decided to have breakfast first at a Mc. Donalds inside the Station.

OMG! These cost a whooping 2500 yen!

When we ventured outside the station, I liked what I saw agad.

It was a picture of discipline and orderliness.

Walang pasaway eh!

There was just one thing that caught my eye.

Nagdadasal ba si Kuya o nanglilimos?

We bought a Hiroshima Day Pass for each of us and rode the Street Car.

Streetcars are different from Buses.  Both are efficient and friendly.

On our way pa lang, nakaka hyperventilate na ang colors ng leaves.

Whoa!

Gusto kong pumara nang makapag pa picture. LOL.

After a few minutes, we arrived na sa area ng Atomic Bomb Memorial.

All too suddenly, we got a bit serious and nervous at the same time.

Kahit na it happened more than 60 years ago, you could still feel the eeriness of the place.

More than ten thousand people perished here in just one bomb explosion.

Call me "maarte" but my heart was beating faster and faster in every step that I make.

Okay, I do not wish to recount here in this blog what exactly happened.

You could easily research about it on the internet.

But for "storytelling" purposes, here are some pictures for you to visualize the extent of the devastation.

On the morning of  August 6, 1945, a sunny day in Hiroshima, People were going about their daily duties.

Ito yung scale model ng aerial view ng Hiroshima circa 1945.

At exactly 8:15 AM, a deafening sound was heard.

Instantly,Hiroshima looked like this na.

As in only a few buildings were standing.  The rest were burned to ashes including people and animals in it.

For those who survived the blast, this is how it looked like thirty minutes after the explosion.

One of the building that was still standing was this building with a dome.

How it looked like after the blast

Eto na sya ngayon after 60+ years.

Took a photo with us on the foreground for remembrance.

The view of the building from afar.

On our way to the next site, we passed by a Japanese guy who spoke English fluently.

We later learned from the signboard he made that he was 3 months inside her Mother's womb when the Bomb was dropped.

 

He told us his story from the accounts of his Mother and from relatives.

His grandfather who died a few months after the blast.

Those who did not die instantly, later died pa din because of the atomic reaction.
Their skins were decomposing, they could not walk na, etc.

They said that they were turned into "guinea pigs" by the Americans.

Those who were pregnant at the time of the blast gave birth to babies who looked like these.

It was indeed very touching hearing it from a survivor himself.

We shook his hands and left with a heavy heart.

He was not there to collect fees he said.
He was just there to tell a true story.
His story was even featured in Time Magazine, we were told.

Another structure that did not collapse entirely was this building.

It was since converted to the Tourist Center and Souvenir Shop where Tourists could seat and contemplate.

Probably recover from the shock too. Hehe.

Teka, souvenir shopping ba ikamo?

Aba eh natural, nagka milagro na naman at nakalakad na naman si Madir. Hehehe

I push mo yan Mother! LOL

After some time, we continued our walk and arrived at the Paper Crane Memorial.

It is the story about a little girl who survived the blast but later developed Leukemia.

She wanted so much to live and as one of her therapy, she would make paper cranes.

She died a few years after and since then, children from all over the world send paper cranes in her memory.

DH was very touched too. I saw him scribbling on his Travel Journal...  

Photoshoot by the paper crane display panels.

A few steps away is the ETERNAL FLAME.

The fire was burning for years already in memory of that fateful day.

A closer view of the flame.

Then we saw the Cenotaph where ashes of some of the people who perished were entombed. 

Our last stop that morning is the Museum where hundreds of items from the blast were on display.

It was touching to know that the Museum was also holding a fund raising for the Philippines.

Thank you Hiroshima.

We spend quite a long time looking at each of the exhibits...

And, the most touching article I found there was this watch who stopped at the exact time the bomb exploded.

Let me leave you with these words most probably uttered by a little boy who was playing that time the bomb exploded.

He could be as old as my boy....

His future was robbed off him.

LET US SAY NO TO NUKES!