Memorial Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims

The "Atomic Bomb Memorial Cenotaph" is officially named the "Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Hiroshima Peace City Memorial)." It was built in 1952 to mourn those who died in the atomic bombing and to express the hope that devastated Hiroshima would be rebuilt as a city of peace.
It was originally planned to serve as a facility to house remains, but this could not be realized because it is located within a park. Instead, it contains a register of the names of atomic bomb victims. This register consists of 116 volumes: 115 volumes in which more than 300,000 names are recorded one by one, and one additional volume labeled "Many persons unidentified." Even today, entries are updated when requests are made by related parties. The roof is shaped like a haniwa-style house, reflecting the desire to protect the spirits of the victims from wind and rain. It was designed by Kenzō Tange, who would later become world-famous. The cenotaph bears the inscription: "Please rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the error." Access to the Atomic Bomb Memorial Cenotaph is via the streetcar: get off at "Chūden-mae," or by Hiroshima Bus: get off at "Heiwa Kinen Kōen" (Peace Memorial Park). It is located roughly in the middle of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.