Memorial Cenotaph, Hiroshima (must see)

The Memorial Cenotaph is a powerful symbol of remembrance and a resolute commitment to a world free from the horrors of war. This concrete, saddle-shaped monument contains a stone chest holding registers with the names of those who died as a result of the atomic bombing. The epitaph inscribed on the cenotaph reads, “Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil.”

Looking through the center of the monument, visitors can see the Flame of Peace and the iconic Atomic Bomb Dome aligned in the distance. The cenotaph’s arched form carries deeper symbolic meaning. It resembles a shelter designed to protect and comfort the souls of the victims in their eternal rest. At the same time, it reminds the living of their responsibility to ensure that such devastation is never repeated.

Every year on August 6, the City of Hiroshima holds the Peace Memorial Ceremony in front of the cenotaph. The event commemorates the victims of the bombing and renews the city’s appeal for lasting peace. Survivors, bereaved families, government representatives, citizens, and visitors from around the world gather to take part.

At 8:15 am, the exact time when the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima, participants observe a minute of silence. For that moment, the city pauses to honor the dead and reflect on the lives forever changed by the bombing.