{"id":34196,"date":"2015-12-06T09:28:44","date_gmt":"2015-12-06T08:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/hiroshima-et-le-poids-de-histoire\/"},"modified":"2020-07-12T18:24:30","modified_gmt":"2020-07-12T16:24:30","slug":"hiroshima-and-the-weight-of-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/hiroshima-and-the-weight-of-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiroshima and the weight of history"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"34196\" class=\"elementor elementor-34196\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6ad7357 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6ad7357\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6df31dbe\" data-id=\"6df31dbe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-add12da elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"add12da\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-69b3237c\" data-id=\"69b3237c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1abf51e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1abf51e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">DISPATCH<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75058df1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75058df1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Wednesday December 2, I leave K\u00f4chi by bus at 10:20 am. The journey to Matsuyama on the northwest coast of Shikoku is peaceful. The bus drops me off in front of Matsuyama station at 1:45 p.m. I swallow my midday meal quickly and then take another bus which takes me to the ferry terminal. I barely have five minutes to buy my ticket and rush to get on board. I haven&#8217;t been on a ferry for at least a decade. The view of the coastline which recedes fills me with joy, without me knowing why. The crossing is peaceful, the ferry sails between the various islands that dot the route.<\/p><p>I arrive in Hiroshima around 4 p.m. It is raining and almost dark. I take the tram to reach my guesthouse, forty minutes from the ferry terminal. It is in torrential rain that I arrive at my destination. The entrance to my accommodation is located in a tiny lane (easy to miss it!). First time I spend the night in dormitories since my arrival in Japan. I am a little apprehensive but it is going very well. The guesthouse is tiny but very pleasant. I share the female dormitory with Jenny, a young Taiwanese who works in Japan and who has been living in the guesthouse for a year! Three young men are also present: a Norwegian, a Brazilian and a Taiwanese. The evening is very convivial. We discuss our travels and our impressions of Japan.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6310654 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6310654\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/embed?mid=15kQo4fhcR4c9NUzejJZW1oluVH0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-7ee6c73b elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7ee6c73b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-64367029\" data-id=\"64367029\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e42aecd gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"7e42aecd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-34196 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"7e42aecd\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Leaving Shikoku Island\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Ferry crossing, Shikoku, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NDEsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxMTMuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiN2U0MmFlY2QifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020113.jpg'><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020113-1160x773.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Ferry crossing, Shikoku, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020113-1160x773.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020113-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020113-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020113-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"7e42aecd\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Little houses\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Ferry crossing, Shikoku, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NDMsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxMjMuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiN2U0MmFlY2QifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020123.jpg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020123-1160x773.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Ferry crossing, Shikoku, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020123-1160x773.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020123-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020123-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020123-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-631e42e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"631e42e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Awakening with the sun which unfortunately will not last. I head for the Genbaku Dome or Dome of the Atomic Bomb, symbol of the destruction of Hiroshima during the Second World War. On August 6, 1945, the atomic bomb exploded just above the building. Although largely destroyed, the building was one of the few buildings at the epicenter of the explosion to remain standing. Its appearance today is the same as it was just after the explosion. The sight of the building instantly brought tears to my eyes. To contemplate with my own eyes, the vestiges of the horror that I have seen so many times reproduced in photo or in animation is something extremely strong. A little disgusted, I watch tourists taking selfies with the Dome in the background.<\/p><p>I then go around the Peace Memorial Park dotted with memorials. Including the Children&#8217;s Peace Monument inspired by the very sad story of little Sasaki Sadako. Then aged 11, Sasaki developed leukemia following atomic radiation. She then decided to make 1000 folded paper cranes convinced that she would heal if she achieved her goal. (The crane is a symbol of longevity and happiness in Japan). But she died before she got there. Her classmates finished the missing cranes to pay tribute to her. It is since this story that folding cranes has become very popular in Japan.<\/p><p>I also visit the National Peace Memorial for the victims of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. An underground room invites the visitor to meditation with a 360 \u00b0 reproduction of the view of Hiroshima just after the impact. In the adjoining rooms, testimonies are kept and videos broadcast the names and photographs of the disappeared. The video lasts four hours! The vision of names parading continuously is unbearable. I go out to visit the Peace Memorial Museum next door. The visit is also very sad. The atmosphere is heavy in the museum. Very few people speak and I can hear a lot of sniffles. Some of the objects and images presented are absolutely overwhelming.<\/p><p>I come out of the museum quite turned upside down. A short walk in the open air in Hiroshima does me good. Despite the horror that happened here 70 years ago, there are few traces today. The entire city has been rebuilt and only the memorial park and the Genbaku Dome bear witness to the events. Walking the busy streets, I find a bit difficult to tell myself that all of this really happened.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f8637e5 gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"1f8637e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-34196 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"1f8637e5\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Genbaku Dome (Dome of the atomic bomb)\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NDUsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxMzMuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMWY4NjM3ZTUifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020133.jpg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020133-1160x1740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020133-1160x1740.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020133-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020133-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020133-scaled.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"1f8637e5\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Genbaku Dome (Dome of the atomic bomb)\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NDcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxMzQuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMWY4NjM3ZTUifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020134.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020134-1160x1740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020134-1160x1740.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020134-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020134-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020134-scaled.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"1f8637e5\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Children&#039;s Peace Monument - Peace Memorial Park\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NDksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxMzcuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMWY4NjM3ZTUifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020137.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1201\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020137-1160x1741.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020137-1160x1741.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020137-800x1201.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020137-1023x1536.jpg 1023w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020137-scaled.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b814727 gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"1b814727\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-34196 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"1b814727\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Genbaku Dome (Dome of the atomic bomb)\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NTEsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxMzguanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMWI4MTQ3MjcifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020138.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020138.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b10f1c gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"6b10f1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-34196 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"6b10f1c\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"National peace memorial for atomic bomb victims - Peace memorial park\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NTQsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNDQuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNmIxMGYxYyJ9\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020144.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020144-1160x773.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020144-1160x773.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020144-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020144-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020144-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"6b10f1c\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"National peace memorial for atomic bomb victims - Peace memorial park\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NTcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNDUuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNmIxMGYxYyJ9\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020145.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020145-1160x773.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020145-1160x773.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020145-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020145-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020145-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-105df5a gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"105df5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery galleryid-34196 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"105df5a\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"City center\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NTksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNTEuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMTA1ZGY1YSJ9\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020151.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020151.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2932ff69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2932ff69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The sun is playing hide and seek with the clouds and it is cold (much colder than in <a href=\"http:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/sunny-days-in-kochi\/\"><strong>K\u00f4chi<\/strong><\/a>, the difference in latitude is obvious). I buy my lunch which I eat in the gardens of Hiroshima-j\u00f4, Hiroshima Castle. A pretty sanctuary is located within the castle. Nicknamed the &#8220;Castle of the Carp&#8221;, Hiroshima Castle has a different architecture from the other castles I have seen since it is a &#8220;castle of the plains&#8221; (it is not located in height). Built in 1589, the castle and its surrounding buildings were almost completely destroyed during the Meiji Restoration. The remaining vestiges were razed by the bomb in 1945. The castle was completely rebuilt in 1958.<\/p><p>The exterior of the castle is beautiful, all in wood. However, the interior is all concrete, what a pity. Fortunately there are exposed masks and armor worn by samurai and warriors as well as different types of sabers. The top floor has a nice view of Hiroshima but it is too cold for me to linger.<\/p><p>Back at the hostel, I spend a very pleasant evening with Jenny and Doris, a young Chinese girl who arrived at the guesthouse today. We discuss our differences and our beliefs. Jenny tells me that she firmly believes in the existence of ghosts, especially a pretty scary Taiwanese ghost. She finds it particularly surprising that we Europeans, despite all our legends, do not believe in the existence of spirits or ghosts. I tell her that I am interested in Shintoism (belief in a multitude of deities) and animism (belief in a soul, vital force animating all living beings, objects and natural elements), which are two beliefs particularly established in Japan. This discussion of cultural differences is very interesting. Tomorrow I will head to Miyajima, a small island in Hiroshima Bay considered to be one of the three most beautiful places in Japan.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-154fc89 gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"154fc89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery galleryid-34196 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"154fc89\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"The castle\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NjEsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNTMuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMTU0ZmM4OSJ9\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020153.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020153-1160x773.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020153-1160x773.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020153-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020153-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020153-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"154fc89\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Shrine of Hiroshima castle\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NjQsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNTQuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMTU0ZmM4OSJ9\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020154.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020154-1160x773.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020154-1160x773.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020154-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020154-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020154-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-829365e gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"829365e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery galleryid-34196 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"829365e\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"The castle\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NzEsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNjMuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiODI5MzY1ZSJ9\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020163.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020163-1160x1740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020163-1160x1740.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020163-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020163-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020163-scaled.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"829365e\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"The castle\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NjgsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNjAuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiODI5MzY1ZSJ9\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020160.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020160-1160x1740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020160-1160x1740.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020160-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020160-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020160-scaled.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"829365e\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Shrine of Hiroshima castle\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NjYsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNTUuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiODI5MzY1ZSJ9\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020155.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020155-1160x1740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020155-1160x1740.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020155-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020155-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020155-scaled.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d51c35 elementor-widget elementor-widget-wp-widget-media_audio\" data-id=\"3d51c35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wp-widget-media_audio.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Sounds of the castle<\/h5><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-34196-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/SoundsofHiroshima_Castle.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/SoundsofHiroshima_Castle.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/SoundsofHiroshima_Castle.mp3\">https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/SoundsofHiroshima_Castle.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50745299 gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"50745299\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-8' class='gallery galleryid-34196 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"50745299\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"The castle\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NzUsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNzYuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNTA3NDUyOTkifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020176.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020176-1160x773.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020176-1160x773.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020176-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020176-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020176-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"50745299\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"View of the city\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzE0NzMsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9wZXJlZ3JpbnVzbXVuZGkuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIwXC8wNlwvUDEwMjAxNjcuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNTA3NDUyOTkifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020167.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020167-1160x773.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan \u00a9 Claire Blumenfeld\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020167-1160x773.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020167-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020167-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1020167-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hiroshima and the atomic bomb. Mandatory stop in the painful history of the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1770,1281],"tags":[2988],"class_list":["post-34196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chapter-1","category-japan","tag-travel-dispatches"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}