Hiroshima Peace Memorial

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Hiroshima Peace Memorial Nagasaki Peace Park
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The Nagasaki Peace Park commemorates the atomic
bombing of Nagasaki of August 9, 1945, which
destroyed wide parts of the city and killed ten
thousands of inhabitants. In the park stand the
massive Peace Statue as well as various other
memorials. A monument around a black pillar marks
the atomic explosion's epicenter in the nearby
Hypocenter Park and stores the name list of bomb
victims. Above the park stands the sobering
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.
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The Hibakusha The Hiroshima Peace Memorial is
the closest building to have survived the city's
atomic bombing. The surviving victims of the
bombings are called The Hibakusha, a Japanese
word that literally translates to
"explosion-affected people". The suffering of the
bombing has led Japan to seek the abolition of
nuclear weapons from the world ever since,
exhibiting one of the world's most firm
non-nuclear policies. As of 31 March 2007, there
were 251,834 hibakusha recognized by the Japanese
government most live in Japan. The government of
Japan recognizes about 1 of these as having
illnesses caused by radiation. The memorials in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki contain lists of the names
of the hibakusha who are known to have died since
the bombings. Updated annually on the
anniversaries of the bombings, as of August 2007
the memorials record the names of almost 400,000
hibakusha 253,008 in Hiroshima, and 143,124 in
Nagasaki. The suffering of the bombing has led
Japan to seek the abolition of nuclear weapons
from the world ever since, exhibiting one of the
world's most firm non-nuclear policies. As of 31
March 2007, There were 251,834 hibakusha
recognized by the Japanese government most live
in Japan.
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Peace Memorial Ceremony
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Every year the City of Hiroshima holds the Peace
Memorial Ceremony to console the souls of those
who were lost due to the atomic bombing as well
as pray for the realization of everlasting world
peace. This ceremony, which is attended by many
citizens, including those who lost family members
in the bombing, is held in front of the Cenotaph
for the A-bomb Victims (Monument for Hiroshima,
City of Peace). The Peace Declaration, which is
delivered by the Mayor of Hiroshima during the
ceremony, is sent to every country in the world
thus conveying Hiroshima's wish for the abolition
of nuclear weapons and the realization of eternal
world peace. At exactly 815 a.m., the time the
atomic bomb was dropped, the Peace Bell is rung,
sirens sound all over the city and for one minute
people at the ceremony grounds, in households and
in workplaces pay silent tribute to the victims
of the atomic bombing and pray for the
realization of everlasting world peace.
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What are your thoughts about the Japanese holding
this Peace Memorial Ceremony?