Hiroshima City’s plans for peace research facility in A-bombed building at standstill, lacking even basic plan 22 months after official announcement
Sep. 28, 2020
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
Progress has stalled on plans to establish—based on collaboration among the Hiroshima City government, Hiroshima University, and Hiroshima City University—a new peace research and education center in Hiroshima University’s former Faculty of Science Building No. 1. Located in the city’s Naka Ward, the A-bombed building is owned by Hiroshima City. Although originally announcing it would develop a basic plan by the end of fiscal 2019, the city has failed to present any plans, indicating it is still in discussions with the two universities. The building has deteriorated over the 75 years since the atomic bombing, making materialization of the plans a necessity.
The plans for establishing the Hiroshima Peace Education Research Facility (tentative name) in Building No. 1 was proposed by a city advisory council in November 2018. Based on the proposal, the city requested the two universities to relocate their peace research institutions. Decisions have been made on relocation of Hiroshima University’s Center for Peace (located in the city’s Naka Ward) and Hiroshima City University’s Hiroshima Peace Institute and Graduate School of Peace Studies (Asaminami Ward).
Although 22 months have passed since its initial announcement of the plans, the city has yet to suggest a basic plan, designed to include details of research and education programs to be implemented at the new facility, plans for facility development, and the approximate costs involved. Responding to a question about the plans raised at a September 16 city council session, Jun Nakamura, manager of the city’s urban development bureau said, “The three parties need to carefully examine the operational structure and roles and responsibilities of the facility. We hope to develop a basic plan as soon as possible.” Nonetheless, Mr. Nakamura did not mention specific timing for the plan’s completion.
The reality, however, is there have been no discussions regarding details about the research and education programs. An official of the city’s urban functions adjustment department said, “We thus far have primarily had discussions on the tangible elements of the facility. We now want to have in-depth talks about the more intangible aspects such as research and education.” The three parties have not yet had a chance this fiscal year to discuss the plans with each other. Representatives from the two universities reported that concrete progress had not been made besides the decision regarding relocation. Some of those involved in the project have expressed confusion because, they say, the city’s direction for the new facility is unclear.
Since Hiroshima University completed its amalgamation and relocation to the city of Higashihiroshima in 1995, the efforts to redevelop its former campus site have experienced ups and downs despite involvement by the city and prefectural governments as well as the private sector. The city has defined Building No. 1, a historic symbol of the university, as a core of its intellectual hub concept. Nevertheless, construction of commercial facilities and high-rise condominiums on the former campus site has jumped ahead of the building’s redevelopment and utilization.
Hiroshi Harada, 81, an A-bomb survivor and former director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum who lives in Asaminami Ward, said, “Building No. 1 is the city’s asset, and the city council has announced a path for preserving and utilizing the building. I believe the city must move the proposal forward while the universities take the lead on research-related matters.” Mr. Harada has called on the three parties to actively engage to make progress on the plans.
The new facility plans also include functions as a community facility, in consideration of requests received from local residents. Kenzo Murakami, 73, a resident of Naka Ward and president of the Senda district’s social welfare council who also serves as a member of the city’s advisory council, shared his expectations. “Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we face difficulties in securing places where residents can get together,” he said. “We definitely would like the city to make quick progress on the plans.”
In 2014, the city government calculated that 1.85 billion yen would be needed for renovations in the case that the front wing of the building is preserved and used in the plans. However, it now estimates that the expenses will increase because the building’s condition has worsened since that time. From the perspective of preserving the A-bombed building, the plans need to be materialized as soon as possible.
Keywords
Former Faculty of Science Building No. 1
The three-story ferroconcrete building, measuring about 8,500 square meters, was originally constructed as the main building of the Hiroshima University Faculty of Literature and Science, the forerunner of Hiroshima University, in 1931. At the time of the atomic bombing, the building, located about 1.4 kilometers from the hypocenter, was completely incinerated except for its exterior walls. When Hiroshima University was established in 1949, the structure was used as the Faculty of Science Building No. 1 and was ultimately closed in 1991, when the university amalgamated and relocated to the city of Higashihiroshima. The Hiroshima City government obtained the building in 2013. Of the entire E-shaped building, the city set forth a policy to preserve only the I-shaped front wing in 2017, based on the results of seismic-resistance assessment. In fiscal 2018, construction work was undertaken to remove the exterior tiles, which were in danger of falling from the walls. At some point during fiscal 2020, the city plans to conduct a soil contamination survey.
(Originally published on September 28, 2020)
Local residents call for quick materialization of plans as building deteriorates
Progress has stalled on plans to establish—based on collaboration among the Hiroshima City government, Hiroshima University, and Hiroshima City University—a new peace research and education center in Hiroshima University’s former Faculty of Science Building No. 1. Located in the city’s Naka Ward, the A-bombed building is owned by Hiroshima City. Although originally announcing it would develop a basic plan by the end of fiscal 2019, the city has failed to present any plans, indicating it is still in discussions with the two universities. The building has deteriorated over the 75 years since the atomic bombing, making materialization of the plans a necessity.
The plans for establishing the Hiroshima Peace Education Research Facility (tentative name) in Building No. 1 was proposed by a city advisory council in November 2018. Based on the proposal, the city requested the two universities to relocate their peace research institutions. Decisions have been made on relocation of Hiroshima University’s Center for Peace (located in the city’s Naka Ward) and Hiroshima City University’s Hiroshima Peace Institute and Graduate School of Peace Studies (Asaminami Ward).
Although 22 months have passed since its initial announcement of the plans, the city has yet to suggest a basic plan, designed to include details of research and education programs to be implemented at the new facility, plans for facility development, and the approximate costs involved. Responding to a question about the plans raised at a September 16 city council session, Jun Nakamura, manager of the city’s urban development bureau said, “The three parties need to carefully examine the operational structure and roles and responsibilities of the facility. We hope to develop a basic plan as soon as possible.” Nonetheless, Mr. Nakamura did not mention specific timing for the plan’s completion.
The reality, however, is there have been no discussions regarding details about the research and education programs. An official of the city’s urban functions adjustment department said, “We thus far have primarily had discussions on the tangible elements of the facility. We now want to have in-depth talks about the more intangible aspects such as research and education.” The three parties have not yet had a chance this fiscal year to discuss the plans with each other. Representatives from the two universities reported that concrete progress had not been made besides the decision regarding relocation. Some of those involved in the project have expressed confusion because, they say, the city’s direction for the new facility is unclear.
Since Hiroshima University completed its amalgamation and relocation to the city of Higashihiroshima in 1995, the efforts to redevelop its former campus site have experienced ups and downs despite involvement by the city and prefectural governments as well as the private sector. The city has defined Building No. 1, a historic symbol of the university, as a core of its intellectual hub concept. Nevertheless, construction of commercial facilities and high-rise condominiums on the former campus site has jumped ahead of the building’s redevelopment and utilization.
Hiroshi Harada, 81, an A-bomb survivor and former director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum who lives in Asaminami Ward, said, “Building No. 1 is the city’s asset, and the city council has announced a path for preserving and utilizing the building. I believe the city must move the proposal forward while the universities take the lead on research-related matters.” Mr. Harada has called on the three parties to actively engage to make progress on the plans.
The new facility plans also include functions as a community facility, in consideration of requests received from local residents. Kenzo Murakami, 73, a resident of Naka Ward and president of the Senda district’s social welfare council who also serves as a member of the city’s advisory council, shared his expectations. “Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we face difficulties in securing places where residents can get together,” he said. “We definitely would like the city to make quick progress on the plans.”
In 2014, the city government calculated that 1.85 billion yen would be needed for renovations in the case that the front wing of the building is preserved and used in the plans. However, it now estimates that the expenses will increase because the building’s condition has worsened since that time. From the perspective of preserving the A-bombed building, the plans need to be materialized as soon as possible.
Keywords
Former Faculty of Science Building No. 1
The three-story ferroconcrete building, measuring about 8,500 square meters, was originally constructed as the main building of the Hiroshima University Faculty of Literature and Science, the forerunner of Hiroshima University, in 1931. At the time of the atomic bombing, the building, located about 1.4 kilometers from the hypocenter, was completely incinerated except for its exterior walls. When Hiroshima University was established in 1949, the structure was used as the Faculty of Science Building No. 1 and was ultimately closed in 1991, when the university amalgamated and relocated to the city of Higashihiroshima. The Hiroshima City government obtained the building in 2013. Of the entire E-shaped building, the city set forth a policy to preserve only the I-shaped front wing in 2017, based on the results of seismic-resistance assessment. In fiscal 2018, construction work was undertaken to remove the exterior tiles, which were in danger of falling from the walls. At some point during fiscal 2020, the city plans to conduct a soil contamination survey.
(Originally published on September 28, 2020)
