Obama’s visit to Hiroshima raises Peace Museum visitors to record high
Feb. 9, 2017
by Gosuke Nagahisa, Staff Writer
The number of visitors to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in fiscal year 2016 is expected to reach a record high for the first time in 25 years. With the current count just shy of 40,000 fewer than the previous high of 1,593,280 in fiscal year 1991, the museum is predicting that if the present trend continues, it is very likely that the number of visitors for fiscal year 2016 will surpass the record by the end of this month or early next month. In addition to the increase in international visitors, it is felt that Mr. Obama’s visit to Hiroshima last year, the first sitting U.S. president to do so, is also helping to boost the total number of visitors.
As of February 7, the number of visitors in fiscal year 2016 is 1,554,737, already exceeding the total of 1,495,065 visitors in fiscal year 2015 when people’s interest in the atomic bombings increased during the year that marked the 70th anniversary of the bombings. After Mr. Obama’s visit on May 27, 2016, the number of visitors rose in June by 41.8% compared to the same month in 2015 and by 40.6% in July. Furthermore, the total annual number of visitors has also increased 18.5% on a year-by-year basis. An exhibit of the paper cranes that Mr. Obama presented in Hiroshima, launched by the City of Hiroshima last June, was followed by a surge of visitors. As a result, the city has extended this exhibit, which was originally scheduled to conclude at the end of January.
It is the first time that the number of visitors has exceeded 1.5 million since 1995, the year which marked the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing, and it is the fifth time since the opening of the museum in 1955. The number of international visitors in fiscal year 2016 reached 323,533 as of February 7 and will soon mark a record high for the fourth consecutive year.
The museum has closed the East Building’s exhibition space to undertake reinforcement work. This building will reopen at the end of March and, at the same time, the Main Building will temporarily close to fortify the building against earthquakes and perform renovations.
(Originally published on February 9, 2017)
The number of visitors to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in fiscal year 2016 is expected to reach a record high for the first time in 25 years. With the current count just shy of 40,000 fewer than the previous high of 1,593,280 in fiscal year 1991, the museum is predicting that if the present trend continues, it is very likely that the number of visitors for fiscal year 2016 will surpass the record by the end of this month or early next month. In addition to the increase in international visitors, it is felt that Mr. Obama’s visit to Hiroshima last year, the first sitting U.S. president to do so, is also helping to boost the total number of visitors.
As of February 7, the number of visitors in fiscal year 2016 is 1,554,737, already exceeding the total of 1,495,065 visitors in fiscal year 2015 when people’s interest in the atomic bombings increased during the year that marked the 70th anniversary of the bombings. After Mr. Obama’s visit on May 27, 2016, the number of visitors rose in June by 41.8% compared to the same month in 2015 and by 40.6% in July. Furthermore, the total annual number of visitors has also increased 18.5% on a year-by-year basis. An exhibit of the paper cranes that Mr. Obama presented in Hiroshima, launched by the City of Hiroshima last June, was followed by a surge of visitors. As a result, the city has extended this exhibit, which was originally scheduled to conclude at the end of January.
It is the first time that the number of visitors has exceeded 1.5 million since 1995, the year which marked the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing, and it is the fifth time since the opening of the museum in 1955. The number of international visitors in fiscal year 2016 reached 323,533 as of February 7 and will soon mark a record high for the fourth consecutive year.
The museum has closed the East Building’s exhibition space to undertake reinforcement work. This building will reopen at the end of March and, at the same time, the Main Building will temporarily close to fortify the building against earthquakes and perform renovations.
(Originally published on February 9, 2017)
