Imperial Headquarter Ruins, Hiroshima

The Imperial General Headquarters Ruins in Hiroshima, located within Hiroshima Castle Park, represent a significant historical site from World War II. These ruins consist mainly of the stone foundations of military barracks that were obliterated during the 1945 atomic bombing. Alongside these foundations, the remnants of a concrete bunker are also present, notable as the location from where the first radio broadcast was made following the disaster.

Originally constructed in 1894, the site served as the headquarters for the Imperial 5th Division during the Second World War. It was one of the primary military facilities near Hiroshima Castle, a key area filled with numerous military installations such as the Chugoku regional military headquarters. This complex was centrally located within one kilometer of ground zero and was destroyed by the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast on August 6, 1945. The attack resulted in the deaths of more than 400 people at this location.

Recent excavations, which began in October 2020 and concluded in March 2022, have uncovered the extensive scale of these ruins, revealing them to be among the largest remnants of the atomic bombing discovered to date. The site historically hosted facilities for the Chugoku military district’s logistics corps, which was responsible for the transportation and supply of military essentials including ammunition, food, and clothing. Findings from the excavation include foundations of buildings, stone pavements, waterways, and other infrastructure.

Post-war, the area was repurposed to provide housing for war victims and was later transformed into the city’s central park square. Currently, there are plans to construct a new soccer stadium on this historically rich site, with the opening scheduled for 2024. This ongoing development underscores the continuous evolution and utilization of the site, bridging its historical significance with contemporary uses.