this place is in nagasaki… somehow we hear more about hiroshima for the atomic bomb…
n for nagasaki… it was really bad timing… as it wasn’t the first choice for the dropping of the bomb…
it juz happened that the clouds cleared at the v last minute or should i say second…
Established in 1955 near the hypocentre of the explosion, remnants of a concrete wall of Nagasaki prison, which was located here prior to the bombing, can still be seen. At the park’s north end is the 10-meter-tall Peace Statue created by sculptor Seibou Kitamura of Nagasaki Prefecture. The statue’s right hand points to the threat of nuclear weapons while the extended left hand symbolizes eternal peace. The mild face symbolizes divine grace and the gently closed eyes offer a prayer for the repose of the bomb victims’ souls. The folded right leg and extended left leg signify both meditation and the initiative to stand up and rescue the people of the world. Installed in front of the statue is a black marble vault containing the names of the atomic bomb victims and survivors who died in subsequent years.
extracted from wikipedia.org
“At 11:02 A.M., August 9, 1945 an atomic bomb exploded 500 meters above this spot. The black stone monolith marks the hypocenter.
The fierce blast wind, heat rays reaching several thousand degrees and deadly radiation generated by the explosion crushed, burned, and killed everything in sight and reduced this entire area to a barren field of rubble.
About one-third of Nagasaki City was destroyed and 150,000 people killed or injured and it was said at the time that this area would be devoid of vegetation for 75 years. Now, the hypocenter remains as an international peace park and a symbol of the aspiration for world harmony.”
DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE ATOMIC BOMB EXPLOSION
1. Leveled Area:……………..6.7 million square meters
2. Damaged Houses:
Completely burned:………….11,574
Completely Destroyed:………1,326
Badly Damaged:………………5,509
Total structures damaged:……18,409
3. Casualties: Killed:……73,884
Injured……………………..74,909
Total:……………………..148,793
(Large numbers of people have died in the following years from the effects of radioactive poisoning)
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Ōura Church (大浦天主堂 ,Ōura Tenshudō?) is a Roman Catholic church in Nagasaki, Japan, also known as the Church of the 26 Japanese Martyrs. It is the only western-style building declared a national treasure, and is said to be the oldest church in Japan, being completed in December 1864. The original building included both Gothic and Baroque features, but after additions in 1879, the building was completely in the Gothic style. The church faces in the direction of Nishizaka Hill, where the 26 martyrs were crucified in 1597. The wooden construction, stained glass windows and the oil painting “Martyrdom of the 26 Saints” on the wall to the right are the main features of the church. \
The white marble statue of the Holy Mother at the entrance was built in commemoration of the dramatic discovery of the “Hidden Christians” – those who had gone underground after the Shimabara Rebellion of the 1630s. On March 17, 1865, a group of peasants from Urakami came to the church and professed their faith to Father Petijean, thus revealing that Christianity had survived through centuries of persecution. The bronze relief in the courtyard below the church shows the memorable scene of the discovery. Before long, tens of thousands of underground Christians came out of hiding in the Nagasaki area. News of this fact reached Pope Pius IX, who declared this “the miracle of the Orient.”
Today, the church remains a popular place for worshippers and tourists alike, drawn to its unique, elegant European style.
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during the times where japanese christians had to hide their belief, they displayed statues like this at home for praying, but upon a closer look… there’s actually a cross at the back, which u can see from the mirror image!
The Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum and Monument were built on Nishizaka Hill in June 1962 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the canonization of the Christians executed on the site on February 5, 1597. The 26 people, a mixture of native Japanese Christians and European priests (20 Japanese, four Spaniards, one Mexican and one Indian) had been arrested in Kyoto and Osaka on the order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the national ruler, for preaching Christianity. They were imprisoned, then later marched through the snow to Nagasaki, so that their execution might serve as a deterrent to Nagasaki’s large Christian population. Hung up on 26 crosses with chains and ropes, the Christians were lanced to death in front of a large crowd on Nishizaka Hill. St Paul Miki is said to have preached to the crowd from his cross.
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Mount Inasa (稲佐山) is a hill to the West of Nagasaki that is 333 metres high. There is a cable car up to the top of Mt. Inasa from Nagasaki. A short walk from the cable car station are several buildings that house transmitters for TV and radio stations that serve Nagasaki and the surrounding area. Furthermore, there is an observation platform that is popular with tourists as it provides spectacular views of Nagasaki’s 10 Million Dollar Night View (1000万ドルの夜景). This is also a common place for young local couples to break off relationships.
extracted from wikipedia.org
huh!!?? what?? a common place for young local couples to break off??!!! so funny… but it’s really beautiful~~~ but it was so windy n so cold when we were there… n btw the cable car wasn’t in service too– could be due to the winds tho… not to worry, got shuttle bus to drive u up…
n really… my thoughts after visiting nagasaki is…
WORLD PEACE!
