A-bomb structural remains of former Japanese Army opened to public: Stone pavements for military horse watering hole unearthed on Edion Peace Wing construction site
Nov. 22, 2024
by Michio Shimotaka, Staff Writer
On November 21, the City of Hiroshima opened to the public the atomic-bombed structural remains, unearthed during excavation survey for the construction of the new soccer stadium, Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, located in Naka Ward. The exhibit includes part of the facility of the former Japanese Army’s transport unit known as the Chugoku District transport soldier recruitment unit (“Shichotai” in Japanese), featuring stone pavements used as flooring for a military horse watering hole, among other artifacts.
On the south side of the stadium, across the street known as Jonan-dori, 57 stone paving pieces covering a total of about 17 square meters, along with 7 square meters of asphalt, have been laid next to a monument commemorating the military horses that transported supplies. An explanatory plaque states that the heat traces may be due to heat exposure caused by fires after the atomic bombing. Additionally, two stone paving pieces have been placed on the east side of the stadium.
An excavation survey was carried out at the stadium construction site in the city’s Central Park in 2020 and 2021. There was an army facility on the west side of Hiroshima Castle before the A-bombing, and about 800 stone paving pieces were unearthed. The city had disposed of or buried the excavated items, but A-bomb survivors, citizen groups, and archaeologists have called for their full preservation. Among them, Shunsuke Taga, 74, a resident of Nishi Ward, who visited the exhibition on its opening day and said, “I hope many people who visit the stadium or the surrounding parks will stop by and learn about the history of Hiroshima.”
(Originally published on November 22, 2024)
On November 21, the City of Hiroshima opened to the public the atomic-bombed structural remains, unearthed during excavation survey for the construction of the new soccer stadium, Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, located in Naka Ward. The exhibit includes part of the facility of the former Japanese Army’s transport unit known as the Chugoku District transport soldier recruitment unit (“Shichotai” in Japanese), featuring stone pavements used as flooring for a military horse watering hole, among other artifacts.
On the south side of the stadium, across the street known as Jonan-dori, 57 stone paving pieces covering a total of about 17 square meters, along with 7 square meters of asphalt, have been laid next to a monument commemorating the military horses that transported supplies. An explanatory plaque states that the heat traces may be due to heat exposure caused by fires after the atomic bombing. Additionally, two stone paving pieces have been placed on the east side of the stadium.
An excavation survey was carried out at the stadium construction site in the city’s Central Park in 2020 and 2021. There was an army facility on the west side of Hiroshima Castle before the A-bombing, and about 800 stone paving pieces were unearthed. The city had disposed of or buried the excavated items, but A-bomb survivors, citizen groups, and archaeologists have called for their full preservation. Among them, Shunsuke Taga, 74, a resident of Nishi Ward, who visited the exhibition on its opening day and said, “I hope many people who visit the stadium or the surrounding parks will stop by and learn about the history of Hiroshima.”
(Originally published on November 22, 2024)
