Day 8: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

A leisurely morning breakfast, Japanese at last.  Norman Mizuguchi joined us so we talked politics!  Lots of fun and interesting insights and gossip.

A little later Lloyd Kawakami and his friend Mike Onouye arrived for breakfast too.  Tonight Manoa DNA  perform at the banquet so had a sound check to do.

We walked through the underground  again to the Peace Memorial Museum, A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park.  The energy was quiet and reverent as soon as we entered the park.  I felt introspective as we walked closer and around the remains of the Dome.  It is a sobering and humbling experience to actually be where this horrific tragedy took place.  Many foreign tourists were there and we all spoke in hushed, low voices.  It is awe-inspiring and beautiful at the same time.  In the park also sits the children's memorial where thousands of origami tsuru are brought to honor Sachiko.  Today there were many school classes visiting the memorial and walking the museum.

I was not apprehensive entering the museum despite the warnings I received.  Yes, it is somewhat graphic and unbelievable that humans can do this to each other.  The museum is well laid-out, beginning with the events of the war in Asia, leading up to America's decision to bomb Japan.

Written letters, drawings , videos and photos document the plan by the U.S. president.  It is terrible to read; no one could anticipate the effect of the atomic bomb on human life.

So much information is available here and some of it is very cruel and disgusting.  This is something every person living today should see.  It has changed my perception of the world powers.  I hope this never happens again.

I don't believe anyone cannot be affected by the documented horror of living through the bombing.  There are still some survivors living today.

Believe it or not, we had lunch after that!  Hiroshima style okonomiyaki!  Yum!  Must try to make it at home for the family.

Shopped a little downtown but had to be back to rest and change for the banquet--15th year celebration of Hiroshima/Hawaii sister cities. This is the business part of the trip.   Award certificates by Wayne.  Speeches by Brian, Gov. Yuzaki, Consul General of the U.S. and musical performance by Taiko Group and Manoa DNA.

Packing tonight to send large suitcase to Narita so we can travel light on the Shinkansen on Saturday. (This must be done two days ahead to ensure arrival in Narita airport for our departure to Honolulu.)