Hiroshima：A-bomb Dome & Peace Memorial Park: March 30, 2024

Hiroshima is one of must-visit places in Japan. I visited the city for the first time in about 40 years.

The Atomic-bomb Dome is world famous.

It used to be a building for industrial activities and exhibition. The first atomic bomb exploded about 600 meters above the building on August 6, 1945.

Hiroshima City decided to preserve the dome as a memorial of A-bomb in 1966.

Since then, total 4 preservation works were done in 1967, 1989, 2002 and 2015.

 

There is Peace Memorial Park in the south of the dome. A cenotaph for the a-bomb victims is placed in the center of the park.

I saw many people praying for the victims.

The G7 and G20 summit meetings were held in Hiroshima in May 2023. The global leaders made official visits to the park.

The Peace Memorial Museum is in the park. 

The exhibitions show what happened in Hiroshima on August 6 in 1945 and thereafter.

They tell us the inhumanity and danger of nuclear weapons. Visitors watched the exhibitions in solemn atmosphere.

 

I found many foreign tourists in the park and around the dome. Knowing Hiroshima and Nagasaki is, needless to say, very important.

 

 

Dressage competitions in Equestrian Park: March 17, 2024

 

 

The season is turning to spring. It is getting brighter and warmer in Tokyo,

I visited Equestrian Park in Setagaya City.

The weather was fine.

I found many families enjoying their times in the park.

 

There were dressage competitions held in the park.

Young riders from universities and horse-riding clubs participated in the event.

The facilities in the park were renovated after the Tokyo Olympic games in 2021.

The left is the main arena, where the competitions were held.

 

There were many horses in the waiting arena.

Many people were watching the horses and riders. (See also the top and 2nd photos)