| ++War, the A-bomb and the people of Hiroshima++ |
During the War, Hiroshima's role as a key military
center grew stronger. The atomic bomb dropped by the U.S. forces, however,
not only stripped away the military functions, it destroyed most of the
civilian infrastructure.
Most people-- A-bomb survivors, a-bomb orphans,
demobilized soldiers, civilians returning from assignments overseas and
from evacuations -- had lost their houses and places of employment.
But despite the confusion that followed on the heels
of the bombing, the surrender, and the occupation, the people of Hiroshima
turned to the task of rebuilding their lives, struggling to overcome dire
shortages of food, money and supplies. |
| ++Recovery from Chaos++ |
| ++A-bomb Orphans++ |
During the final stage of the war, over 20,000 of Hiroshima's
children were evacuated in groups to the countryside to protect them from
air raids. Their lives were saved, but many lost their entire families
to the A-bomb. These "A-bomb orphans" were variously estimated to number
between 2,000 and 6,500. Residential facilities were set up and attempts
were made to care for them, but the sorrow of losing both parents could
not be healed.
"A-bomb orphan" polishing shoes in front of Hiroshima Station (1948).
Photograph: Yuichiro Sasaki
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| ++The ABCC++ |
The Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC) was established in both
Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1947 to study the long-term effects of the A-bomb
on the human body. In 1951, the Hiroshima office moved into a substantial
facility on the top of Hijiyama Hill. Some criticized Commission's policies
that examined patients and documented pathology without providing treatment.
In 1975, Japan and the United States agreed to share equally in the
operation and management of the facility. The commission was reorganized
and renamed the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF).
Nearly completed ABCC on Hijiyama Hill.
Courtesy of Chugoku
Shimbun
|
| ++The Peace Memorial City Reconstruction Law++ |
Restoration projects were often delayed by financial difficulties.
The collective wisdom of the people involved in these projects culminated
in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Reconstruction Law. This law resulted
from the first referendum ever held in Japan. Enacted in 1949, the law
established as a national goal, the rebuilding of Hiroshima as a
"symbol of the ideal of making lasting peace a reality."
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