JAPAN

by Michio Asada, General Affairs Division

The city of Nagasaki has been a window into other cultures since olden times and the richness of our community has been nurtured through its interactions with many countries. Three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the second atomic bomb used in warfare was dropped over Nagasaki at 11:02a.m. on August 9, killing 74,000 people.

Nagasaki opened its first Atomic Bomb Museum in 1949. In April 1996, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the bombing, the facility was rebuilt. The museum exhibits provide information on the devastation caused by the bombing, the history behind the dropping of the bomb, the reconstruction of the city, and Nagasaki's desire for the total abolition of nuclear weapons and a world at peace. Thus, the museum is a base for sending out a message of peace to the planet.

In the permanent exhibition room, the horrific destruction immediately after the explosion is conveyed. Artifacts include a clock that stopped at 11:02, the moment the city was struck, as well as a replica of the wall of Urakami Cathedral. A full-scale model of the Nagasaki-type bomb, the belongings of victims such as an iron helmet with a piece of skull stuck inside, and a host of photographs are also on display.

In the video room, “Records of the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki,” a documentary depicting the damage caused by the bomb, and “Nagasaki on August 9,” an animated film, are shown throughout the day. There is also a Q&A corner where visitors can learn about the bombing and about peace.

Many people from Japan and abroad visit the museum daily. Last year there were a total of 716,000 visitors, including many students on school trips. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is committed to the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace. We look forward to your visit when you come to Nagasaki.

Address: 7-8 Hirano-cho, Nagasaki
Tel: +81-95-844-1231
Homepage:　http://www1.city.nagasaki.nagasaki.jp/peace/index_e.html
Days closed: Dec. 29-31
Admission: Adults, ¥200; Elementary, junior high, and high school students, ¥100
                  (A group discount rate is also available.)

(Originally published on March 17, 2008)