Hiroshima City

Hiroshima ( above ) is the capital city of Hiroshima Prefecture, Chugoku Region. There lived more than 400,000 people in the city in A.D.1945. However the population was decreased rapidly to 140,000 after the first atomic bombing.

Since then on, the city has been reconstructed and developed. Now 1,200,000 people live in Hiroshima City and so many tourists visit many places in the city such as Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome, both of which are included in UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It was at 08:15am on 06th August 1945 that exploded was the Little Boy, the first atomic bomb, dropped over Hiroshima. The owner of the watch, showing the time ( above ), must have been one of 140,000 people killed by the bomb. The watch is exhibited in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

The above photo shows clothes worn by a girl, 13 years old at the time, who was exposed to the atomic bomb. She was taken to her parents after the explosion and died late that night. She can not say anything any more. However many including the above clothes are exhibited in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

So many were killed, so many injured, so many affected for decades by the atomic bomb while the city became ruins as above photo, which is exhibited in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. There survived very few buildings.

One of the few buildings, which were not completely destroyed by the aomic bomb, is now Atomic Bomb Dome ( above ). There used to be many people who wanted the dome removed because it reminded the citizens of the bombing without remourse. However, after the controversy, it was decided to preserve the structure, which is now included in UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There is the Cenotaph for Atomic Bomb Victims ( above ) between the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Museum in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. There in the stone chest below the arch is the list of the names of those who were killed by the bomb ( due to the blast or to radiation ).

U.S.President Obama visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on 27th May 2016 and left his message and two paper cranes made by himself, which are exhibited in the museum ( above ).

The construction of Hiroshima-jo Castle started in A.D.1589 and the main keep ( above ) of the castle was completed in A.D.1598. After the castle was completed, Hiroshima City developed as a castle town while the castle was the H.Q. of Terumoto Mori, who was one of the most powerful warlords in Sengoku-Jidai ( Age of Warring States ==> A History of Japan vol.2 Samurai Age ).

The castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb in A.D.1945. However the castle was rebuilt with reinforced concrete in A.D.1958 while Hiroshima City was reconstructed. The castle could be the symbol of the reconstruction of the city.

Okonomi-yaki could have been what supported stomachs of those who worked to reconstruct Hiroshima City. It is said that Okonomi-yaki is the soul food of Hiroshima. There are so many Okonomi-yaki restaurants in the city and so many citizens eat Okonomi-yaki ( above ) as well as tourists do. Okonomi-yaki is one of popular local specialty dishes in Japan.

In Hiroshima, Okonomi-yaki is thin flour dough cooked on an iron plate ( above ) with layers of various ingredients such as shrimps, squids, sliced pork, egg, cabbage and/or noodles.

Osaka is famous for Okonomi-yaki as well as Hiroshima is. However in Osaka, flour dough, mixed with ingredients without making layers, is cooked on an iron plate. Also much more cabbage is used in Hiroshima than in Osaka.

Special sauce completes Okonomi-yaki (above ). People in Hiroshima use Otafuku sauce and/or Carp sauce, both of which are their favourite brands.

It is said that there are a few thousands of Okonomi-yaki restaurants in and around Hiroshima. So it would be easy for tourists to find Okonomi-yaki restaurants though it could be difficult to choose.