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| Peace Statue |
The most notable memorial in this park is the Peace Statue, which has one arm pointing up to symbolize the threat of nuclear weapons, one arm pointing outward to symbolize the hope for peace, and eyes slightly closed in prayer. The one folded leg and one extended leg signify both meditation and the initiative to stand up and rescue the people of the world. In front of this statue is a black marble vault that contains the names of the atomic bomb victims, and those survivors who died in the following years.
Next to this statue are two special monuments dedicated to the Korean people who had died from the atomic bombing. These Koreans had been forced to live and work in Japan under poor working conditions and had been treated very badly. Next to the monument is a sign that had been written as an apology to the Korean people for what they made them go through during the years of war. These monuments are filled with handmade paper cranes donated by visitors from not only Japan, but from around the world.
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| One of the monuments dedicated to the Koreans |
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| Black stone monolith |
A plaque stands at the nearby hypocenter, and gives an account of the damage caused by the blast, followed by statistics:
“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.”
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| This is what remains of Urakami Prison, the closest public facility to the hypocenter. 134 people died and the building was obliterated. |
Statistical information:
DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE ATOMIC BOMB EXPLOSION
1. Leveled Area:
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6.7 million square meters (2.59 square miles)
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2. Damaged Houses:
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Completely burned:
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11,574
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Completely destroyed:
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1,326
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Badly damaged:
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5,509
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Total structures damaged:
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18,409
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3. Casualties:
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Killed:
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73,884
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Injured:
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74,909
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Total:
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148,793
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| Some of the many sculptures in the park |
The park is full of many sculptural gifts from countries all over the world, and in the southern end of the park is a “Fountain of Peace”. Following the atomic bombing, thousands of people suffered terrible burns and died begging for water. Therefore, this fountain was dedicated as an offering of water to the victims of the atomic bombs and the repose of their souls. The fountain sprays water in the shape of a pair of wings, symbolizing the dove of peace and the crane after which Nagasaki harbor was named. First constructed in 1969, the fountain was reconstructed in 1985.
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| Fountain of Peace |
Surrounding the fountain is a stone path depicting the fire that engulfed Nagasaki, and at the front of the fountain is a black stone plaque with the words of Sachiko Yamaguchi, who was nine years old at the time of the bombing, “I was thirsty beyond endurance. There was something oily on the surface of the water, but I wanted water so badly that I drank it as it was.”
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| Stone path surrounding the fountain |
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| Stone plaque with Sachiko Yamaguchi's words |
Every year, on August 9th, the peace park becomes the site of a Peace Memorial Ceremony where the Mayor of Nagasaki delivers a Peace Declaration to the World.
For Social Studies Teachers the Peace Park relates to the following outcomes of Social Studies 20-1 and 20-2.
For Social Studies Teachers the Peace Park relates to the following outcomes of Social Studies 20-1 and 20-2.
"2.2 appreciate that the pursuit of national
interest has positive and negative consequences
2.7 analyze nationalism and ultranationalism during
times of conflict
3.1 appreciate that nations and states engage in
regional and global affairs for a variety of reasons"
(From the Social Studies 20-1 and 20-2 Program of Studies)
Websites: http://www.at-nagasaki.jp/foreign/english/spot/002.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki_Peace_Park, http://marieinjapan.blogspot.ca/2007/05/nagasaki-peace-museum-and-peace-park.html
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