Today is the 70th anniversary of the 1945 August 6th bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.
The 「原爆ドーム」 (Hiroshima Peace Memorial).
When I first came to Japan in 1990, it was the year of the 45th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
As always, there was a special memorial in Hiroshima today…and a moment of silence at 8:16AM across Japan.
Paper lanterns were set afloat near the Peace Dome in Hiroshima today in a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing.
Where to start this post?
Thirteen months ago, KISS (an American rock band that I’m a big fan of) played some shows in Japan.
My friend and I saw their 2013 October 20th show. (I wrote a post with photos here about it).
I have seen KISS in concert many times, actually…and it’s always been a great show!
Well, it’s been officially announced that KISS are returning to Japan in about three months!
KISS Japan Tour 2015 flyer
The Japan tour dates are:
2015 Feb 23 – Nagoya
2015 Feb 25 – Osaka
2015 Feb 26 – Hiroshima
2015 Feb 28 – Sendai
2015 Mar 3 – Tokyo (at the Tokyo Dome)
A surprising fact about the March 3rd date at the Tokyo Dome is that KISS will have the Japanese band “Momoiro Clover Z” as the opening act.
First of all, many concerts in Japan have no opening act at all. KISS almost never does for their shows in Japan.
But more surprising is that this band, Momoiro Clover Z, though popular in Japan…is a J-pop band!
They have, though, played at “OzzFest Japan” last spring (which I saw). I was surprised that they were at OzzFest…and now I’m surprised again that they’ll be sharing a stage with KISS!
Momoiro Clover Z have also collaborated with heavy metal guitarist Marty Friedman (who lives in Tokyo) on one song, and on another with heavy metal guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen.
And now, Momoiro Clover Z and KISS will not only sharing a bill at the Tokyo Dome…but the two bands will be releasing a collaboration song on 2015 January 28th.
This song featuring American hard rock band KISS and Japanese pop band Momoiro Clover will be released internationally on i-tunes…and on two CDs in Japan (an official KISS CD and a Momoiro-Clover one).
KISS with Japanese pop band “Momoiro-Clover Z”
Today (2013 August 6th) is the sixty-eighth anniversary of the atomic bombing of 広島 (Hiroshima, Japan).
This is a photo of 「原爆ドーム」.
The name literally means “Atomic Bomb Dome” but it’s usually called “Hiroshima Peace Memorial” in English.
Today in Japan at 8:16AM, there will be a moment of silence.
Yesterday (2012 August 6th) was the 67th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (August 9th will mark the same anniversary of Nagasaki).
Harry Truman was the U.S. President in 1945 who ordered the atomic bombings of Japan.
Every August, there are ceremonies in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki to remember those who died in the bombings…and to try to ensure that no other nuclear weapons are dropped on any other city in the world.
Yesterday, for the first time ever, a member of former U.S. President Harry Truman’s family attended the ceremony in Hiroshima.
Harry Truman’s grandson laid a wreath of flower at the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima.
Harry Truman’s grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, is an anti-nuclear weapons activist. When he attended the ceremony in Hiroshima, he said ““I’m two generations down the line (from former President Truman). It’s now my responsibility to do all I can to make sure we never use nuclear weapons again.”
Last Wednesday to Friday, my second daughter took a three-day field trip with her high school class to 広島 (Hiroshima).
Hiroshima is on the other side of the country from 東京 (Tokyo). I imagined that they’d go there by 新幹線 (bullet train)…but they took an airplane flight.
Here are some of the photos she took. (She took many more photos, but I’m not including any of the pictures that have her or her classmates in them.)
This is a famous landmark and symbol of Hiroshima. Before 1945 August 6th, it was an industrial exhibit hall.
The atomic bomb dropped in WW2 detonated directly above it, killing everyone who was inside…but the building was still standing.
It remains exactly how it was after the bombing but the name was changed to 「原爆ドーム」 (“Atomic Bomb Dome”). It’s now a peace memorial and a World Heritage Site.
「原爆ドーム」 ("Atomic Bomb Dome")
This (below) is a statue of Sadako Sasaki who died of leukemia when she was twelve caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (her hometown). While she was in the hospital, she tried to fold 「千羽鶴」 (1000 Paper Origami Cranes) which are a symbol of health and luck in Japan.
She died before she could complete them.
Click here to read a post that I wrote about her story (and another young Japanese girl with a big story, too).
(Some of young Sadako’s paper origami cranes are in the WTC Momument in New York. Click here to read my post about that.)
"Children's Peace Monument" with statue of Sadako Sasaki.
The 「広島平和記念公園」 (“Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park”):
In the Peace Park, there is the “Peace Flame” which will remain lit until there are no more nuclear weapons in the world, “Peace Bells” which can be rung be visitors to the park in a wish for world peace, and the “Cenotaph (empty tomb) For The Atomic Bomb Victims”…this monument lists the names of all of the victims of the bombing of Hiroshima and has the words 「安らかに眠って下さい 過ちは 繰返しませぬから」 (“Rest in peace, for we will never repeat this mistake”).
The "Cenotaph For Atomic Bomb Victims"
Looking through the Cenotaph For Atomic Bomb Victims, the "Peace Flame" and the "Atomic Bomb Dome" can be seen.
My daughter’s class took the ferry to nearby 宮島 (Miyajima), which is called the “resting place of the gods” and is another World Heritage Site.
The ferry to Miyajima that my daughter's class took.
There are deer on Miyajima.
Miyajima is most famous for 「厳島神社」 (“Itsukushima Shrine“) and it’s wooden Torii gate in the water:
Another landmark of the area is the wooden 「錦帯橋」 (Kintaikyou Bridge) with it’s five arches:
My daughter’s class also got to visit a cave. When they exited the cave, they saw this magnificent view:
All of the photos in this post were taken by my daughter. Please do not use or duplicate any of them without her express permission (which can be obtained through me).
Tokyo Five 
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