FUKUROMACHI elementary school peace museum

This small but really impressive peace museum stands on school grounds. The old structure inside has been preserved. It has a basement and part of it was where the shoe cupboards were placed. There, three kids survived the atomic bombing. The school stood 460 meters away from Hypocenter. Not really away but rather close. Some seventy children standing on the school playground for a morning assembly were sacrificed along with four to five school staffers. 

People left messages on the school walls with a chalk soon after the bombing. They were about their whereabouts or inquiries about their beloved ones. The walls were darkened with soot and they looked like blackboards. Some of the messages slightly remain on the walls.

Both Japanese and English descriptions about displayed items are provided and a twelve-minute-long film can be viewed in the basement. It has English captions.

The museum is easily accessed on foot from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park/Museum. 

Very much recommended. Please go.

 Exterior. 

A familiar brown memorial plaque is seen. This type of plaques are easily found all around the city.

No photography inside except this area. Through the window, the present school ground is seen.

From the second floor of the museum is seen modern Hiroshima. The museum has a beautiful wooden staircase. It feels so warm and comfortable to your feet. The inclination is just right for everybody. 

ART IN SAKAGURA

 This year's ART IN SAKAGURA and a new store Amitabha selling products environmentally friendly. The store opened in June 2014. 

 Stamp rally sheet and a prize

 Store named Amitabha 

 A family shrine at the store

Good air is flowing and the spirit comes around every morning.

TESHIMA, cycle of life

 A few weeks ago, I finally climbed BIG BAMBU, an artwork which nestled up the bamboo grove. Now I feel urged climbing it once again. This artwork is only available until September 23, 2014. It was installed for the SETOUCHI International Art Festival last year. Probably because it was popular, the artwork is still open but it has to be gone due to expenses and safety. Totally fantastic to climb the artwork and stand on the edge of the BAMBOO SHIP. 

I am also working on analyzing the YOKO-O KAN, a newest addition to TESHIMA. It's a museum showing the works of YOKO-O TADANORI. His paintings need investigation. It's much better to know their backgrounds and YOKO-O's personal history. A glance at the museum will be already thought-provoking but you can get to think more by knowing more. So, I'm trying to know more and think. Below are some of the recent photos from TESHIMA. It's a satisfying experience to rent a bike and ride it around in Teshima the whole day. I might be riding a bike again in Teshima soon.

 A friend of mine, other climbers and a staffer

 I'm a skipper!

 Climbing down

 Bamboos tied together

 A scene from biking

 Water is abundant in Teshima 

 This artwork is always kind to Teshima scenery

 

Each island seems to have their way of stacking stones

 You are allowed to take pictures of this artwork.

Beautiful colors but my neck hurt looking up at it for a few minutes.

 Going back to Uno Port

One of the highest tide @ Itsukushima Jinja, Miyajima

Just once in a blue moon, Itsukushima Jinja is off limits due to high tide. Today on September 11, 2014, the tide was marvelously high and the entrance was closed by a rope; poor travelers could not go onto the corridor of the shrine but others including me barely did. A five-minute difference dictated the good or bad luck. The seawater made some part of the corridor wet, breaching onto the floor in some part of the corridors. The photos below will convince you how high it was.