Grindles in Korea: Photography and Adventures: HIROSHIMA: HOPE FOR PEACE

A Dream Come True

I have always wanted to visit Japan. I really wanted to see the castles, especially the Himeji Castle. I have always dreamed of standing in front of Himeji Castle. I also wanted to see the famous shrines and temples in Kyoto, the old imperial capital of Japan. I used to think that these dreams were impossible to happen, but I was wrong.

My husband and I spent our summer vacation in Japan. Though we only stayed there for five days, we were able to visit and see a lot of places. The first place we visited was Hiroshima.

A Night Stroll Around Hiroshima Peace Park

Since we were staying near the Peace Park, we got a chance to stroll around the park. I was able to take some night shots of the Atomic Bomb Dome. The view was really stunning. It's hard to believe that seventy years ago, an atomic bomb exploded right above the place we were standing. That painful part of history left a standing memorial for the visitors like me to see. This is how it looks like at night.

The Genbaku Dome (Atomic Bomb Dome)

Sadako Sasaki and the Paper Cranes

The next morning, we woke up early to walk around the park again and catch the ferry that goes to Miyajima Island. While walking at the park, we saw the Children's Peace Monument. According to the information sign, the monument was created in remembrance of the innocent children who died from the bombing. The monument features a statue of a girl holding a golden crane and two other children stretching their arms on the side. The design of the statue was based on the true story of a girl named Sadako Sasaki, a victim of the bombing. She was only two years old when the bombing occurred. She lived normally for several years, but when she was 10 years old she was diagnosed with leukemia due to radiation exposure. She died when she was 12. When she was sick in the hospital, her fellow patient told her an ancient Japanese legend. According to the legend, anyone who can fold a thousand paper cranes will be granted a wish. Sadako believed it. Her fellow patient taught her how to fold papers cranes. She then started folding paper cranes believing that she would be healed if she folded 1,000 cranes. However, she died in October 1955 at the age of 12. Her story was shared all over the world. Children from around the world still make paper cranes for her. We saw a lot of the paper cranes in the display case next to the statue at the park.

The Children Peace Monument

The Paper Cranes

Photographed by Vince Grindle

The Grand Red Gate and Itsukushima Shrine

We boarded a ferry to Miyajima Island to see the famous Grand Gate and the Itsukushima Shrine. While walking to the Itsukushima Shrine we were greeted by a deer walking freely in the road. As we continued walking, we saw more and more of them. Some made us giggle as they ran after people with food. The deer were not afraid of humans.

Note: The management are trying to make the deer return to their natural habitat in the forest. The visitors are advised not to touch them nor give them food.

The Miyajima Deer

It took us about 15 minutes to get to the view point of the Grand Gate (O'Torii). I think it is beautiful. Especially, its reflection in the water. After taking photographs of the gate, we headed to Itsukushima Shrine. The shrine was also beautiful, with its attractive bright red tint. It was really worth the trip to Miyajima.