The Hiroshima Genbaku Dome is a part of the Hiroshima
Peace Memorial Park. It is the only structure that
remained in its area after the first atomic bomb exploded
on August 6, 1945. The monument has been preserved
in its ruins as a symbol for human destruction and the
hope for world peace. It was designated as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1996 for its stark symbolic value.
The word “Genbaku” can be translated into “originating
explosion”, which emphasizes on the precise origin
where the bomb erupted. It was once the Hiroshima
Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall (built in 1914). The
inscribed property covers the Peace Memorial Park and
its other structures. This includes a museum, the Atomic
Bomb Memorial Mound, and a Peace Monument for the
victims who suffered through this tragic event. Annual
memorial ceremonies take place on August 6th to
comfort the spirits of those who lost their lives to the
bombings, as well as praying for world peace.
The Hiroshima Genbaku Domes stands in its original
form and has been maintained over the years. The
substance to the monument is completely authentic and
holds a high spiritual integrity. It is defined as a place for
prayer, represents man-made destructive forces, and is a
tangible link to Hiroshima’s past.
