Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima

This museum is documenting the complete history about impact and situation during atomic bomb in world war II. It was a devastating moment that i couldn’t even imagine. And the museum successfully capture all the moment. With lots of remains evidence/goods/clothes/ruins building being a showcase to remind us of how important peace needed in this world. It surely gave us a chill and bit a goosebumps as well. We can only feel silence in all the museum area. Somehow i felt that the time is stop in there. Memorable but sad at the same time. It’s a must historical site visit in Hiroshima.

Everyone should try to visit this space at least once in their life. The first exhibition space is appropriately sobering, affecting and shocking, and is the highlight of the museum. I do have some comments about where I think things could be improved. The most important regards the use of euphemism in many of the descriptions, like describing Manchuria as “an independent state” or referring to the forced mobilization (what was essentially slavery) of many Koreans, Chinese, POWs, etc. without the use of the word “forced.” Another issue is more technical; some basic questions are never addressed, such as when and how the Hiroshima area became less radioactive. I think more context at the outset would help with a general understanding of the history. For example, it’s unclear why the youth of Hiroshima were pressed into tearing down homes (I can’t recall the name given to these units), unless you happen to read a very small panel at the very end of the museum that mentions that the purpose of this was to create firebreaks. Finally, the rationale offered for the use of the A-bomb could be discussed with more context. The notion that the expense of the project to develop the bomb was a major justification in its use is never really substantiated. Also, there’s no discussion of the moral dimensions of the emperor’s decision not to surrender after the first A-bomb was used. All that being said, it’s really something that must be seen and experienced. I commend the museum for dispensing with impartiality and taking clear positions against the use of WMDs and in favour of disarmament and arms control.