Nagasaki Peace Park is a park located in Nagasaki, Japan, commemorating the
atomic bombing of the city on August 9, 1945 during World War II. It is next
to the Atomic Bomb Museum and near the Peace Memorial Hall.
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Fountain of Peace.
At the south end of the park is a "Fountain of Peace". This was
constructed in August, 1969, as a prayer for the repose of the souls of
the many atomic bomb victims who died searching for water, and as a
dedication to world peace.
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Lines from a poem by a girl named Sachiko Yamaguchi, who was nine at
the time of the bombing, are carved on a black stone plaque in front
of the fountain.
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It reads: "I was thirsty beyond endurance. There was something oily on
the surface of the water, but I wanted water so badly that I drank it
just as it was."
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Peace Statue.
At the park's north end is the 10-meter-tall Peace Statue created by
sculptor Seibo Kitamura of Nagasaki Prefecture. The statue's right hand
points to the threat of nuclear weapons while the extended left hand
symbolizes eternal peace. The mild face symbolizes divine grace and the
gently closed eyes offer a prayer for the repose of the bomb victims'
souls. The folded right leg and extended left leg signify both
meditation and the initiative to stand up and rescue the people of the
world.
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The statue represents a mixture of western and eastern art, religion,
and ideology.
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Installed in front of the statue is a black marble vault containing
the names of the atomic bomb victims and survivors who died in
subsequent years.
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See also
Source
Location
