Japan April 2025 Ep 9: Hiroshima 4K
Welcome to episode 9. This week we explore the beautiful city of Hiroshima. [Music] Good morning. We’re up in the crow’s nest and we’re about to come into Hiroshima. And I’ll try to show you a little view. The windows are kind of blurred out a bit so it’s hard to see, but let me spin this around. It’s pretty crowded and noisy in here, but they have good coffee and good views, and we’re just killing some time. A 12:00 p.m. arrival time gave us the opportunity for a leisurely breakfast and coffee with a view in the crow’s nest. We couldn’t wait to get out and explore this infamous city. The first of two Japanese cities to be completely destroyed by atomic bomb at the end of World War II. It is now a modern-day society with almost no signs of such tragedy. Still, there is a feeling of taking a step back in time. [Music] Epic chess battles on our way into Hiroshima. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] We even had time for a quick lunch in the dining room before going ashore. [Music] They made us gluten-free fish and chips. Oh, yeah. Regular fish and chips. Gluten-free cheesecake. We are about to go on our tour. Obviously, still a very industrialized port. Lot of nice machines right there. Can you hear me in the back? Okay, thank you. And first of all, I would like to introduce the most important person, our bus driver, Mr. Sigo. So, he’s one of the best drivers in Hiroshima city. But just in case, please pass. You’re seated. I’m here. Could you allow me allow me to sit down and speak for the safety? Okay. Thank you. Most of the tour you will see from the bus and now we are going to Hiroshima city. It will take 40 minutes. First we’ll go to the peace memorial park. After that we will go to the Hiroshima castle. So now let me talk about Hiroshima. Hiroshima has 1.2 million people. one of the biggest cities in Japan. However, we don’t have subways because we have six rivers. You will see many rivers and many bridges from now on. So our main transportation is street car or tra. Later you can see our main transportation. [Music] [Applause] Do you know where you are? You are in Hiroshima. This area is a factory and shop area not residential area. You have already seen the temples and shrines a lot. So we Japanese are always afraid of natural disaster. Since ancient times people thought if thunder or natural disaster occurs it is like a anger of deities. So they prayed for stop it. So that’s the origin of sinto shrine. Also, we Japanese believe Buddhist and Shintoism at the same time. [Music] [Applause] [Music] A look on the left side, our main transportation. Tra or straight car very slow. Hiroshima people like to move slowly not like Tokyo. So you can relax and move slowly and walk slowly. [Music] After the atomic bombing 3 days later, certain area the street cars already only 3 days later. You can see fountains over there very big. There are many places for water in this part because when atomic bombers dropped the bodies of human beings the water were completely removed and they felt very very thirsty. They cried please give me water, give me water. That’s why there are many places for water dedicated to the victims. This river is Motoasu river. Many victims jumped into this river for water, crying for water. There are some survivors. 100,000 survivors all over Japan. Their average age is 85 years old. When they were young, they couldn’t talk about it. They wanted to forget it but they are becoming older. So they decided to talk about it. They thought it should be told from generation to generation. Hiroshima is a very beautiful city. You cannot imagine such a devastation. This is a T-shaped bridge. Ioi bridge. T- shape. It’s easier to see from the sky. Its unique T-shape made this bridge an easily identifiable target of the World War II atomic bombing by the United States government in 1945. With most of the area being built with wood, the Gimbaku Dome or atomic bomb dome, formerly an industrial exhibition hall, was made of concrete and located near the hypoenter of the blast. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Though badly damaged, it was one of the few buildings in the area left standing. The dome structure was designated for preservation in 1950. The surrounding area known as Peace Memorial Park was constructed in stages around the dome. So that bridge right there, that is the famous T-shaped bridge that the US Air Force targeted. They were a few hundred yards off and the bomb exploded directly over top of this building. It’s a heavy thing. 150,000 people died. [Music] [Music] It’s quite peaceful down here by the river. If you come down to the river, be a little careful. The steps have quite a bit of algae on them. It’s not too bad, but you don’t want to slip and bunk your head. The dome is a reminder of the devastating effects of war and the dangers of nuclear weapons, while the park’s beauty represents hope for world peace and the resilience of humankind. [Music] Oh, there’s much on it. [Music] Oh, that actually worked. [Music] [Applause] [Music] The Hiroshima Peace Bell was constructed in 1964. It stands as a physical symbol of the hope for peace between nations and a world free of nuclear weapons. Its plaque reads, “We dedicate this bell as a symbol of Hiroshima aspiration. Let all nuclear arms and wars be gone and the nations live in true peace. May it ring to all corners of the earth to meet the ear of every man. For it to throb and palpitate the hearts of its peaceloving donors. So may you too, friends, step forward and toll this bell for peace. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Oh, it’s to make sound. So, in case you’re shy about going potty, you can make water sounds and go potty. Can’t believe it. I, Thomas Leblanc, I rang the peace bell in Hiroshima Peace Park. I feel like I’m a part of history. What a crazy day. Back on the bus. Hiroshima castle original one was established 400 years ago. Do you know the drama shogun? The Tokugawa. Yesas was a first shogun in Edo period. The shogun is a top of samurai and then there are some feudal laws. At that time castle was made of wood. After the atomic bombing the castle was rebuilt. 1950s it is not made of wood just reinforced concrete. The inside is now museum. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. This is shopping arcade. There is a shopping floor in the basement. Even if we don’t have subways, we have shopping space for basement. [Music] In front you will see Hiroshima Castle. So Hiroshima Castle has a different name. We call the castle carp castle because there are many carp in rivers. Do you know carp is a fish? When you see the top of the tower of castle, there are two fish shaped roof tile. There is a belief that when the castle got fire, the fish will pour water from their mouth to put out fire. That’s why general cast tower has a fish shaped tile. Professional baseball team’s name is also Hiroshima carp. Carp symbolizes strength and success in life. It is believed that carp will climb up on the role and then become dragons. It’s very strong. Bus will stop in front of high school. On the right side there is a high school. You can see there is a escalator inside. Very unique. That is Hiroshima Castle. It is known as a plains castle as it was built on the planes. Was completely wiped out during the bombing and rebuilt in the ‘ 50s out of concrete. Crazy beautiful. [Music] So, as you just saw, there are a lot of fish in the rivers, and so its nickname is the Karp Castle. In a determination to move past the widespread devastation, Hiroshima City focused on rebuilding and preserving their most significant historical sites. It is now a thriving, bustling city with many buildings, beautiful architecture, and unique features. As well as housing Hiroshima’s pre-war museum, the castle also serves as a venue for cultural and educational programs. [Music] Just hold. Yep. Is it okay? Just hold. Perfect. Sure. Okay. This is a typical Hiroshima scenery. On the right side you can see mountains and rivers helicopter and on the left side the river connected to the sea. This is a typical Hiroshima scenery river mountain. So retirement age here in Japan problem is the general retirement age is 60 years old. However, when we get a pension it is 65 years old 5 years we have to work after retirement. So most of company said you are retired but you can continue to work in this company. However, even if they work in the same job, their salary is dramatically declined. But it was difficult to require another job. So they reluctantly to continue the same job. Our average lifespan is very long. For women, 87 years old. For men, 81 years old. So very long. Most of people are sick have illness for 10 years. So that’s a problem. So it depends on their lifestyle. One of the reason Japanese people live so long is food. But not for young people. Young people like hamburger or like a western style food. But older people like fish or miso soup or rice. That’s a typical older people’s food. That’s why current older live longer. I don’t know our generation because our generation started to eat a lot of western style food. Hamburger or meat or beef. I love meat. I want to eat what I like. So I don’t know how long I can live. Skiing resort. Skiing resort. Oh, we have skiing resort in northern part. Kajino. Yes, that’s right. Here in Japan, Kajino is not allowed. Not like Las Vegas. Yeah, there is a pachinko. Have you ever heard pachinko? Pachinko is a vertical ball game. We play you. Don’t forget anything. Please take everything. Okay. [Music] I would like to thank you to our drivers. Yeah. Thank you. No port day is complete without a bit of shopping. And this time I finally got my personal kimono fitting. [Music] It’s a very pretty one. [Music] We have to film it because [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] We’ll take it. We’ll take it. [Music] How [Music] 6,000 yen. Okay. You have enough or do you need help? No, I got it. Okay. [Music] made it through immigration. Passports are stamped. About to get back on the ship. Hiroshima. That was awesome. We had a great day of tours. I got a handmade traditional kimono, which I’m very excited about. I was hoping to have one. And we cleared customs and we’re getting back on the ship. Fried chicken. That is a nice looking lasagna. Cara, some mahi mahi, and the paneang curry. Thomas got the cheesecake, a little sundae, and a gluten-free chocolate delight for me and Caria. We have a lot more adventure to share, so hit that subscribe and we’ll see you next week in Sockcho, South Korea. [Music]
Japan April 2025 Episode 9: Hiroshima
In this episode we take a 2 hour tour around the beautiful and resilient, city of Hiroshima. Our tour includes the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, surrounding the Atomic bomb stricken site of 1945. We also visit the reconstructed Hiroshima Castle, originally established by Hiroshima’s first Shogun leader in 1589, and rebuilt in the 1950’s after being destroyed in the bombing.
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Music Credits:
Shade Of The Sunflower by, Mandala Dreams
Across Land and Sea by, Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
Too Steep to Climb by, Deskant
Osaka Solitude by, Sight of Wonders
Bhoomi by, Aks & Lakshmi
Vibrant Emotions by, Krisu
Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
AloJapan.com