Nagasaki and a Visit to Peace Memorial Park
Our day concluded with a solemn visit to the Peace Park, an open space dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and which serves as a space for reflection and prayer.
After we finished our porcelain-themed tour in Arita, we returned to Nagasaki and toured the Peace Memorial Park. It was indeed a different sort of excursion, one that felt solemn and eerie. This was an especially meaningful destination for me, as my father, Don H. Peters, served in the Marines in WWII and was stationed in Nagasaki after the bombing. When I asked, all he would say about his months in Nagasaki was “I was there to help clean up.” It was odd to think of him here as a young man of 25.
Peace Memorial Park is a memorial site dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Located near the center of the blast, the park serves as a space for reflection, remembrance, and a pledge to prevent future wars.
Peace Statue, with its outstretched hands and closed eyes, symbolizes peace, prayer for the repose of the victims’ souls, and the danger of nuclear weapons. It is said to be a composite of Jesus and Buddha, as both Christianity and Buddhism are prominent religions in this region. The hand pointing to the sky warns of nuclear weaponry; the outstretched hand is a reminder of peace.
The Peace Fountain was constructed with the intention of promoting lasting world peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. It commemorates those who perished while searching for water after the 1945 bombing.
The Atomic Bomb Victims’ Memorial acknowledges the citizens who lost their lives in the bombing and its aftermath.
The Sumako Fukuda Poetry Memorial is a sculpture honoring Sumako Fukuda, who wrote numerous poems with themes of humanitarianism and peace in response to the devastation caused by the bomb.
Children at Play is from St. Paul, Minnesota, the sister city of Nagasaki, and was donated as a gesture of friendship in 1992.
The Cloak of Peace was given to the Peace Park by several cities in New Zealand.
Triumph of Peace over War is from the city of San Isidro, Argentina.
Sun Crane of Peace is from the Republic of Cuba.
Maiden of Peace was donated in 1985 by the People’s Republic of China.
The Peace Memorial Park sculpture, Infinity, from Ankara, Republic of Turkey, was donated in 1991.
Every year on August 9th—the anniversary of the atomic bombing—a Peace Memorial Ceremony is held in front of the statue, where the mayor of Nagasaki delivers a Peace Declaration to the world.
After our park visit, we returned to the ship as she prepared to sail to our next port of call, Kagoshima, Japan. An all-girl high school band with a pom pom squad and baton twirlers entertained us at Sail Away!
When I knew you were going to Nagasaki, my mind went to Pop too. How surreal to be there now. You photographed this solemn yet poignant environment beautifully. It’s very moving to see the various sculptures gifted.
Your photo essay is the best I've viewed of the Peace Park, solemn subject but important to everyone to understand! My father was in the Pacific theatre after the bombing on a ship, he was a radar expert in the Navy.