Hiroshima Peace Center and Memorial Park

The Hiroshima Peace Center and Memorial Park is a memorial park located in the center of Hiroshima, Japan. It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack at the end of World War II, and to the memories of the bomb’s direct and indirect victims. The park was built on an open field that was created by the explosion.

The park encompasses 30 acres and is home to numerous memorial statues and a world-class museum. The annual 6 August Peace Memorial Ceremony, which is sponsored by the city of Hiroshima, is also held in the park. The purpose of the Peace Memorial Park is not only to memorialize the victims of the bombing, but also to perpetuate the memory of nuclear horrors and advocate world peace.

One of the notable symbols in the park is the A-Bomb Dome. It is the skeletal ruins of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. It is the building closest to the hypocenter of the nuclear bomb that remained at least partially standing. It was left as it was after the bombing in memory of the casualties. The A-Bomb Dome was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on December 7, 1996.

The Hiroshima Peace Center and Memorial Park was planned and designed by the Japanese Architect Kenzo Tange. The architecture of the Hiroshima Peace Center and Memorial Park is an expression of Modern style. It is one of Kenzo Tange’s first buildings in the postwar period. The museum is supported on pillars, like Le Corbusier’s patented piloti. Furthermore, the building is articulated with reinforced concrete. Tange combined Le Corbusier’s five points with elements drawing from Japanese traditions, such as the sun-screens and the modular arrangement of the facade.