Clouds

Two dates. August 6, 1945 and August 9, 1945. It’s been 70 years since bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These dates will be forever remembered in our history. The devastation is unmatched.

Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima

War is a sensitive topic to discuss. Lots had been said about the horrors of war especially during World War II (WWII). And every time WWII is raised, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are always the points of discussion.

 

Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima

During my school days, our teachers often told us stories about the WWII including the fate of the comfort women and the mission and purpose of kamikaze (suicide pilots). How life was generally an everyday struggle under the Japanese Army back then.  I have to admit that I was afraid of Japan and Japanese when I was young. Many years later though, I found myself working in Japan,  was able to learn more about the country, its people and cultures and have been to various prefectures including the peace museums - Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki.

Summer Clouds

夏の雲

I fly my kite, 

race it against the summer 

clouds. The breeze 

is always the winner.
Crows as close second. 

凧を飛ばして、夏の雲と競争させる

いつも風が勝者となり、カラスが僅差で二位

I see the dragonflies beat 

the butterflies in their own 

duel. Colorful 

poppies say so. 

色とりどりの芥子の花は言う

トンボがチョウとの競争に勝ったと

I listen to the hymn 

of a stream, never-

ending. 

私は終わることのない、せせらぎの讃美歌を聴く

I fly my kite 

but the sun seems closer, 

and the summer 

clouds thicker. 

凧を飛ばす

しかし、太陽が近づいたと思うと夏の雲が厚くなった

My watercolor world 

turns to a charcoal 

painting

私の水彩画の世界は灰色の世界へと一変したのだ

the day,

I lose my kite, 

and my eyesight.

その日、私は凧と視界を失った

/totomai

(thanks to my friends for translating the poem to Japanese) 

Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima

Living in Japan for almost seven years and visiting the affected places opened my eyes to the other side of the story. Some  of my questions were answered. Though some of the latest information I found out confused me especially after reading the poems, letters and haiku of the suicide pilots days or hours before there mission . All I can say is that there are no winners in war. Everyone is affected and it may take another lifetime to heal the wounds of war. Or not.

Hypocenter Park in Nagasaki

Discussions, justifications of what had happened during World War II may continue and will not reach a conclusion. No matter what, it is already a part of our history and cannot be easily erased.  The Hypocenter Park is known to be the exact place where the atomic bomb was dropped in Nagasaki. The first photo above is the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, one of the structures left standing after the Hirsoshima bombing. More or less 70,000 people were killed per attack. Some stories of the survivors can be read here. 

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki

The clock shows the time to be exactly 11:02 am. Many believed that this was the time when Nagasaki was bombed. The clock is one of the few remembrances of war being exhibited in the museum. These museums are free of charge, or at most will only charge you for a donation. Take this opportunity if ever you are in Japan.

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki

Scars of War Children

mementos...
carelessly carved
within their marrow
by senseless combats.

 mementos...
always evoking replays
only to stop haunting
the very moment
their tombs are erected!

 /totomai

Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima

As mentioned earlier, I am currently interested in reading stories of the kamikaze, or the suicide pilots. I bought two books and watched films about them. Most of them were in a situation where the only acceptable answer was YES.  Reading their poems and last letters to their loved ones gave me a lump in my throat. They are still humans after all. I will never forget this haiku written by a suicide pilot.

to bloom is good 

to fall is better 

i am a young cherry blossom

~ kamikaze pilot

I am ending this post by recommending the two war films "Eternal Zero" and "Grave of the Fireflies". Watch them if you have time, the former was one of my favorite films last year and am also eagerly waiting for the translated version of the book. The latter was one of my favorite animated films of all time depicting the struggles of a brother and sister during WWII. 

Photos taken with Nikon D7000, 

lenses used : 
      Nikkor 18-300mm 3.5f 
      Tamron 11-16 mm 2.8f 
      Nikkor 10.5 mm 2.8f

totomai 
2015/07/14