Memorial Cathedral for World Peace

The Catholic Noboricho Church World Peace Memorial Cathedral is a cathedral that Father Hugo Lassalle, who was the chief priest of the Catholic Noboricho Church at the time of the atomic bombing, devoted himself to completing in order to mourn the victims and pray for world peace. With support from many people, including the Pope, it was completed in 1954 after four years of work. The design was created by Togo Murano, an architect based in Osaka who is also known for work such as the renovation of the State Guest House Akasaka Palace. Along with the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum designed by Kenzo Tange, the cathedral was designated an Important Cultural Property in 2006—the first postwar building to receive that status. On the east side of the 57-meter-long cathedral rises a petal-shaped drum roof in plan, and toward the northwest stands a 45-meter-tall bell tower. Inside, various donated items dedicated to prayers for peace are used, including a pipe organ gifted from Cologne, Germany. Mass is held not only in English every Sunday, but also once a month each in Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Spanish.