Mannequins depicting A-bomb victims to be completely removed from museum
Mar. 31, 2017
by Gosuke Nagahisa, Staff Writer
On April 25, the mannequins that depict atomic bomb victims wandering through the devastated city in the aftermath of the bombing will be completely removed from the main building of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, located in Naka Ward. The City of Hiroshima made the decision to remove them in 2013. In line with the full renovation of the museum, now ongoing, the city plans to focus the museum’s permanent exhibitions on the artifacts of the bombing, including personal effects of the victims and photographs. Many visitors to the museum have expressed regret over this decision, saying that the mannequins clearly convey the damage caused by the atomic bombing.
The three life-size mannequins are made of plastic and represent a woman, a girl student, and a boy. Like the accounts told by survivors, the mannequins depict people wandering amid debris with burnt skin dangling from their arms. The current mannequins have been on display just inside the entrance to the main building since 1991. They replaced the original wax mannequins, which were put in place in 1973, 18 years after the opening of the museum.
With the arrival of spring and a busier travel season, the museum has been crowded with visitors. When a guide explained that the mannequins would soon no longer be seen in the museum, many visitors frowned and gazed at them intently. Akehide Fujikawa, 73, a resident of Asaminami Ward, said, “The dreadful damage that nuclear weapons wreak can be recognized at a glance. I wish they wouldn’t be removed.” Kanta Nishio, 29, a company employee from Tokyo, said, “If the museum focuses on actual artifacts, how about examining them scientifically and remaking the mannequins so that they look closely like the reality?”
The main building will be closed for seismic reinforcements on April 26, when the east building will, in turn, reopen after renovations. After that, the mannequins will be removed and kept in storage, and they will not be put on permanent display after the museum is fully reopened in July 2018.
Since the city’s decision was announced, Akihiro Katsube, 46, a company employee and resident of Saeki Ward, has collected signatures of protest via the Internet. He said, “I don’t think there’s a problem with the powerful impact that the mannequins have. The city should carefully examine whether the exhibitions that follow can adequately convey the horror of the atomic bombing to visitors, including whether removing the mannequins was the right idea.”
The museum staff asked for understanding and said, “The mannequins will be kept in the museum’s storage room, and may be displayed as part of a special exhibition in the future.”
Keywords
Debating changes to Peace Memorial Museum displays
The City of Hiroshima is completely renovating the museum’s displays in conjunction with the seismic reinforcements of the main building. Taking the views of experts into account, the city is focused on making more effective use of the actual A-bomb artifacts. According to the city’s plan, about 200 artifacts from the collection of approximately 20,000 items held in the museum’s storage room will be put on display. One method will involve “collective displays” featuring items like tattered clothing, a charred tricycle, a warped iron door, and photographs of badly burned victims. The main building will reopen in July 2018 after renovation work has been completed.
(Originally published on March 31, 2017)
On April 25, the mannequins that depict atomic bomb victims wandering through the devastated city in the aftermath of the bombing will be completely removed from the main building of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, located in Naka Ward. The City of Hiroshima made the decision to remove them in 2013. In line with the full renovation of the museum, now ongoing, the city plans to focus the museum’s permanent exhibitions on the artifacts of the bombing, including personal effects of the victims and photographs. Many visitors to the museum have expressed regret over this decision, saying that the mannequins clearly convey the damage caused by the atomic bombing.
The three life-size mannequins are made of plastic and represent a woman, a girl student, and a boy. Like the accounts told by survivors, the mannequins depict people wandering amid debris with burnt skin dangling from their arms. The current mannequins have been on display just inside the entrance to the main building since 1991. They replaced the original wax mannequins, which were put in place in 1973, 18 years after the opening of the museum.
With the arrival of spring and a busier travel season, the museum has been crowded with visitors. When a guide explained that the mannequins would soon no longer be seen in the museum, many visitors frowned and gazed at them intently. Akehide Fujikawa, 73, a resident of Asaminami Ward, said, “The dreadful damage that nuclear weapons wreak can be recognized at a glance. I wish they wouldn’t be removed.” Kanta Nishio, 29, a company employee from Tokyo, said, “If the museum focuses on actual artifacts, how about examining them scientifically and remaking the mannequins so that they look closely like the reality?”
The main building will be closed for seismic reinforcements on April 26, when the east building will, in turn, reopen after renovations. After that, the mannequins will be removed and kept in storage, and they will not be put on permanent display after the museum is fully reopened in July 2018.
Since the city’s decision was announced, Akihiro Katsube, 46, a company employee and resident of Saeki Ward, has collected signatures of protest via the Internet. He said, “I don’t think there’s a problem with the powerful impact that the mannequins have. The city should carefully examine whether the exhibitions that follow can adequately convey the horror of the atomic bombing to visitors, including whether removing the mannequins was the right idea.”
The museum staff asked for understanding and said, “The mannequins will be kept in the museum’s storage room, and may be displayed as part of a special exhibition in the future.”
Keywords
Debating changes to Peace Memorial Museum displays
The City of Hiroshima is completely renovating the museum’s displays in conjunction with the seismic reinforcements of the main building. Taking the views of experts into account, the city is focused on making more effective use of the actual A-bomb artifacts. According to the city’s plan, about 200 artifacts from the collection of approximately 20,000 items held in the museum’s storage room will be put on display. One method will involve “collective displays” featuring items like tattered clothing, a charred tricycle, a warped iron door, and photographs of badly burned victims. The main building will reopen in July 2018 after renovation work has been completed.
(Originally published on March 31, 2017)
