Monday, April 14, 2014

Nagasaki: Peace Park

Saturday, 5th April, 2014.

Junko took us by streetcar to the Nagasaki Peace Park.

 

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Some facts about the bombing of Nagasaki, from a plaque in the park.

 

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The park could be approached by a large escalator …..

 

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….. or floral staircase.

 

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At the base of the escalator were some of the 193 bomb shelters which were in existence in Nagasaki during WW2.

 

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Looking down the staircase.

 

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Frances reads about the Fountain of Peace.

 

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From the sign.

 

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The Fountain of Peace, shaped like the wings of a dove.  Through the wings, you can see the Nagasaki Peace Sculpture.

 

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Fountain of Peace from the side.

 

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Looking back through the fountain towards the entrance.

 

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The Nagasaki Peace Park is presided over by the 10 tonne bronze Nagasaki Peace Statue designed in 1955 by Kitamura Seibo. 

 

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“Words from the Sculptor” of the Nagasaki Peace Sculpture.

 

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Foundations of the nearest public building to the atomic explosion.  The building was completely destroyed.

 

The Peace Park includes the Peace Symbol Zone, a sculpture Garden with contributions on the theme of peace from around the world:

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“The Triumph of Life over Death.”

 

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There is also a Children’s Peace Monument, complete with paper cranes from children all over the world.

 

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Golden crane on the top of the Children’s Peace Monument.

 

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Cherry blossom in the park.

While we were in the park, it seemed to grow colder.  I had deliberately come out without gloves (such a nuisance for trying to take pictures!) and now my hands were so cold they were acutely painful.  Carol kindly lent me her gloves, insisting her hands were not cold.  I accepted gratefully, but left the park feeling chilled to the bone in more ways than one.

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