Hiroshima, Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Park – October 3, 2024
Where I expected to encounter resentment and hatred, what I felt permeating the grounds around the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Peace Bell, the Peace Park, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is a profound sense of forgiveness, respect, love, and an intense desire for PEACE.
The dome stands because the bomb exploded about 600 meters directly above it. The blast wave radiating out from that point laid waste to everything else in all directions for one mile. Those who were within the radius were vaporized along with trees, buildings, animals. Those beyond died more slowly from radiation sickness. To this day, survivors known as Hibaskusha tell their story at the Peace Memorial Museum. Thanks to their contribution, on December 10 in Oslo, Norway, Nihon Hidankyo — the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations — will receive the Nobel peace prize for their activism against nuclear weapons.