Visitors to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum reach record high of 1.73 million in fiscal year 2016
Apr. 4, 2017
by Kanako Noda, Staff Writer
The number of visitors to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in fiscal year 2016 reached 1,739,986, a new record high since the museum was first opened in fiscal year 1955. This total includes 366,779 international visitors, also a record high for the fourth year in a row. Following Barack Obama’s visit to the museum in May 2016, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to come to Hiroshima, there has been a surge of interest in the museum from people both in and out of Japan. These figures were announced on April 3 by the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, the organization that oversees the museum.
On February 24, the total number of visitors exceeded 1,593,280, which had been the previous high marked in fiscal year 1991. By the end of fiscal year 2016, that previous record had been eclipsed by 146,706 people.
The foundation attributes this record high largely to the visit by Mr. Obama to the museum last May and the exhibit of paper cranes that he donated to the City of Hiroshima at the time of his visit. Other influences noted by the foundation include the start of U.N. negotiations to discuss a treaty to outlaw nuclear weapons in March and the release of the hit animated movie Kono sekai no katasumi ni (In This Corner of the World), which is set in Hiroshima and Kure around the time of the atomic bombing. In addition, 4,552 groups from elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools paid visits to the museum on school trips, which was the second largest number after the record high of fiscal year 2004.
The museum’s main building will close for seismic reinforcement work on April 26. On the same day, however, the east building will reopen after undergoing renovations. Recently, easing overcrowding at the museum, partly due to this renovation work, has become a challenge. On April 3, Kenji Shiga, the director of the museum, held a press conference at City Hall and said, “We would like to maintain an environment where visitors can take all the time they need to view the exhibits. We are thinking of creating a space with images or panels where visitors can learn about the atomic bombing while waiting to enter the museum.” Mr. Shiga said that the museum staff will work proactively to address the issue of overcrowding. After the main building is closed, Mr. Obama’s paper cranes will be moved to the east building and displayed there.
The foundation also released the number of people that visited the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims in fiscal year 2016. A record high was set at this facility, too, with 341,491 visitors, including 78,634 international visitors, about 20% of the total.
(Originally published on April 4, 2017)
The number of visitors to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in fiscal year 2016 reached 1,739,986, a new record high since the museum was first opened in fiscal year 1955. This total includes 366,779 international visitors, also a record high for the fourth year in a row. Following Barack Obama’s visit to the museum in May 2016, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to come to Hiroshima, there has been a surge of interest in the museum from people both in and out of Japan. These figures were announced on April 3 by the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, the organization that oversees the museum.
On February 24, the total number of visitors exceeded 1,593,280, which had been the previous high marked in fiscal year 1991. By the end of fiscal year 2016, that previous record had been eclipsed by 146,706 people.
The foundation attributes this record high largely to the visit by Mr. Obama to the museum last May and the exhibit of paper cranes that he donated to the City of Hiroshima at the time of his visit. Other influences noted by the foundation include the start of U.N. negotiations to discuss a treaty to outlaw nuclear weapons in March and the release of the hit animated movie Kono sekai no katasumi ni (In This Corner of the World), which is set in Hiroshima and Kure around the time of the atomic bombing. In addition, 4,552 groups from elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools paid visits to the museum on school trips, which was the second largest number after the record high of fiscal year 2004.
The museum’s main building will close for seismic reinforcement work on April 26. On the same day, however, the east building will reopen after undergoing renovations. Recently, easing overcrowding at the museum, partly due to this renovation work, has become a challenge. On April 3, Kenji Shiga, the director of the museum, held a press conference at City Hall and said, “We would like to maintain an environment where visitors can take all the time they need to view the exhibits. We are thinking of creating a space with images or panels where visitors can learn about the atomic bombing while waiting to enter the museum.” Mr. Shiga said that the museum staff will work proactively to address the issue of overcrowding. After the main building is closed, Mr. Obama’s paper cranes will be moved to the east building and displayed there.
The foundation also released the number of people that visited the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims in fiscal year 2016. A record high was set at this facility, too, with 341,491 visitors, including 78,634 international visitors, about 20% of the total.
(Originally published on April 4, 2017)
