Angela Neal Grove

Photojournalist, Speaker, World Traveler | Keeping a Finger on the Pulse

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Nagasaki Today

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The Nagasaki Peace Park is adjacent to the Bomb Museum. There is sculpture given by nations across the world to promote peace. Above is the central fountain shaped like wings of a dove. In the distance is the peace statue created by Japanese sculptor, Seibo Kitamura. PHOTO; ANGROVE
The Nagasaki Peace Park is adjacent to the Bomb Museum. The park has sculpture given by nations across the world to promote peace. Above is the central fountain shaped like wings of a dove. In the distance is the peace statue created by Japanese sculptor, Seibo Kitamura.

August 9, 1945

This is Nagasaki today. It is seventy-five years since the Atomic Bomb was dropped on the city ending World War II.

Today the city is rebuilt and is once again a thriving port. But the scars, both physical and emotional are deep and everlasting, My visit to the Hypocenter, or ground zero, museum and adjacent Peace Park were profoundly moving. So here I let the images I took tell the story.

The Hypocenter

This is the Hypocenter, or ground zero. The Atomic bomb exploded in the sky on August 9 about 500 meters above the point where this Hypocenter Cenotaph now stands. An area 2.5 kilometers from this point was utterly devastated and the rest of the city left in ruins. By December 1945, 74,000 people had died and 75,000 suffered from injuries. PHOTO ANGROVE
This is the Hypocenter, or ground zero. The Atomic bomb exploded in the sky on August 9 about 500 meters above the point where this Hypocenter Cenotaph now stands. An area 2.5 kilometers from this point was utterly devastated and the rest of the city left in ruins. By December 1945, 74,000 people had died and 75,000 suffered from injuries.

In The Bomb Museum

Nagasaki was not the original target for this second bomb-drop after Hiroshima. Various cities were on the list including Kyoto. On August 9, Kokura was the target. However smoke from recent firebombing hampered visibility and so Nagasaki was targeted.

This plaque is in the Nagasaki Bomb Museum. It tells the reason Nagasaki was targeted.
This photograph shows the devastation of the city of Nagasaki after the bomb was dropped. It hangs in the Nagasaki Bomb Museum which covers history of the event. // PHOTO: ANGROVE
This photograph shows the devastation of the city of Nagasaki after the bomb was dropped.
It hangs in the Nagasaki Bomb Museum which covers history of the event.
This clock, in the Nagasaki Bomb Museum, shows the time the bomb was dropped. 11.02 am. PHOTO; ANGROVE
This clock, in the Nagasaki Bomb Museum, shows the time the bomb was dropped. 11.02 am.

Visiting the Peace Park

This is the ten foot high Peace Statue created by Seibo Kitamura for the Nagasaki Peace Park. The right hand points to the threat of nuclear weapons, the left hand symbolizes eternal peace. The mild face, symbolizing divine grace, has eyes gently closed in prayer for the repose of the bomb victim's souls. The folded right leg signifies meditation and the left leg stands ready to help people of the world. The statue is a mixture of Western and Eastern art, religion and ideology.PHOTO; ANGROVE
This is the ten foot high Peace Statue created by Seibo Kitamura for the Nagasaki Peace Park. The right hand points to the threat of nuclear weapons, the left hand symbolizes eternal peace. The mild face, symbolizing divine grace, has eyes gently closed in prayer for the repose of the bomb victim’s souls. The folded right leg signifies meditation and the left leg stands ready to help people of the world.
The statue is a mixture of Western and Eastern art, religion and ideology.
The Peace Park, adjacent to the Nagasaki Bomb Museum contains sculpture given by nations across the globe to promote peace. This is the Cloak of Peace by Kingsley Baird. It is a gift of friendship from the people of New Zealand. It symbolizes consolation, protection and solidarity. The design is based on a Maori feather cloak. PHOTO; ANGROVE
The Peace Park, adjacent to the Nagasaki Bomb Museum contains sculpture given by nations across the globe to promote peace. Here is the Cloak of Peace by Kingsley Baird, a gift from the people of New Zealand. It symbolizes consolation, protection and solidarity. The design is based on a Maori feather cloak.
Costellation Earth is an eight foot sphere celebrating the global family. Created by Paul T. Granlund, it was placed in the Nagasaki Peace Park in 1992. It was donated by St. Paul Minnesota which is a twin city of Nagasaki. PHOTO// ANGROVE
Costellation Earth is an eight foot sphere celebrating the global family. Created by Paul T. Granlund, it was placed in the Nagasaki Peace Park in 1992. It was donated by St. Paul Minnesota which is a twin city of Nagasaki.
The 'Sun Crane of Peace' in the Nagasaki Peace Park, donated by the people of Cuba. PHOTO//ANGROVE
The ‘Sun Crane of Peace’ in the Nagasaki Peace Park, donated by the people of Cuba,

Our Hope For the Future

Japanese School children in Nagasaki visiting the Bomb Museum. Peace is their hope for the future. //PHOTO; ANGROVE
School children in Nagasaki visiting the Bomb Museum. Peace is their hope for the future.
Cranes are a symbol of peace in Japan. Sadako and Thousand Paper Cranes is a children's historical novel by Canadian-American Eleanor Coerr, published in 1977. After being diagnosed with leukemia, caused by radiation, Sadako's friend told her to fold origami paper cranes in the hope of making one thousand of them. There is a Japanese legend stating that if you make one thousand cranes you will be granted a wish. Sadako folded 644 cranes before she died.
Cranes are a symbol of peace in Japan. Sadako and Thousand Paper Cranes is a children’s historical novel by Canadian-American Eleanor Coerr, published in 1977. After being diagnosed with leukemia, caused by radiation, Sadako’s friend told her to fold origami paper cranes in the hope of making one thousand of them. There is a Japanese legend stating that if you make one thousand cranes you will be granted a wish. Sadako folded 644 cranes before she died.
Symbol of peace with dove and rainbows in origami cranes. Cranes are a symbol of peace in Japan. This was made by children of Nagasaki. It is in the Bomb Museum. PHOTO//ANGROVE
Symbol of peace with dove and rainbows in origami cranes. Cranes are a symbol of peace in Japan. This was made by children of Nagasaki. It is in the Bomb Museum
Rainbow reflected in the fountains in the Nagasaki Peace Park. The fountains were designed to represent the wings of a dove. PHOTO; ANGROVE
Rainbow reflected in the fountains in the Nagasaki Peace Park. The fountains were designed to represent the wings of a dove.

Nagasaki Today and a Prayer for Peace

Sunrise over Nagasaki harbor. The force of the Atomic Bomb was contained because Nagasaki is surrounded by hills. This harbor is now rebuilt and is again thriving. With this new day and sunrise is a prayer for peace PHOTO; ANGROVE
Sunrise over Nagasaki harbor. The force of the Atomic Bomb was contained because Nagasaki is surrounded by hills. This harbor is now rebuilt and is again thriving. With this Sunrise and New Day is a Prayer for Peace

If you visit Nagasaki Today…

The Bomb Museum, Nagasaki, was closed from March until June 2020 due to the Coronavirus. It is once again open.

I traveled with Geographic Expeditions in a small group lead by writer Don George.