Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima (must see)

The Atomic Bomb Dome, officially known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, is one of Hiroshima’s most powerful symbols of remembrance and peace. The ruined structure serves as a solemn reminder of the immense human suffering caused by the atomic bombing and expresses the hope that nuclear weapons will ultimately be eliminated.

The building was originally completed in 1915 as the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition Hall. Designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel, it was later renamed the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall and was used to promote local products and host exhibitions and public events.

At 8:15 am, the first atomic bomb used in warfare exploded over Hiroshima. The distinctive T-shaped Aioi Bridge had been selected as the aiming point because it was easily recognizable from the air, but the bomb drifted slightly from its intended target. It detonated approximately 600 meters above the city, with the hypo-center about 160 meters southeast of the Industrial Promotion Hall.

Because the blast occurred almost directly above the building, much of the downward force passed through it rather than striking it from the side. Although the interior was destroyed by fire and everyone inside was killed, portions of the brick walls, steel framework, and central dome remained standing. The haunting skeletal structure became one of the few recognizable buildings left near the hypo center. It should therefore not be described as having survived intact, but rather as a severely damaged ruin whose surviving framework endured the explosion.

As Hiroshima was rebuilt, the future of the ruin became the subject of considerable debate. Some residents regarded it as an unbearably painful reminder of the bombing and believed that it should be demolished. Others argued that it must be preserved as physical evidence of the destruction and as a warning to future generations about the horrors of nuclear warfare.

On July 11, 1966, the Hiroshima City Council unanimously adopted a resolution to preserve the Atomic Bomb Dome permanently. Further conservation work has been undertaken as the structure has aged. Today, the Atomic Bomb Dome remains a silent witness to the events of August 6, 1945.