Day 9 - Hiroshima and on to Kyoto

One couldn't visit Japan without visiting the landmark city of Hiroshima a place forever associated in the mind with the use of nuclear weapons. I didnt known what I would think or feel as we toured the peace park in the city centre. It was a sobering place but by no means grim. The A-bomb memorial museum is well laid out and gives the history of Japan as a military power leading up to WWII as well as the planning by the allies and the choices made before the bomb was used. It was all very even handed without recourse to blame or finger pointing.

It could have been sad shadow on the day if were not for the fact that the place was heaving with school kids just happy to be out on a field trip chatting happily to one another as they viewed exhibits an the effects of radiation poisoning and other such pleasantries.

Our day was made by a small group with their teacher who wanted to ask us questions in english and find out who we were and where we were from. Their teacher took our photograph with the students and then they gave us gifts of folded paper cranes. A sign of peace and hope.

Before and after shots of the city models in the museum

There you go Uncle Sam, It aint big and it aint clever!