japan, part II

I never finished Japan, so here you go.

The A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima.

Radiation Effects Research Center (formerly Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission)

Four hibakusha (被爆者 or bomb-affected persons) we met with - the woman with them is a hibakusha as well, and one of the youngest survivors (6 mos. old). She travelled with us.

My pitiful attempt at a paper crane.

The "floating" torii at the Itsukushima Shrine near Hiroshima - it's one of the Three Views of Japan, which were determined in 1643, and that kind of blows my mind.

Floating lanterns at the Hiroshima lantern ceremony. In honor of those who died, especially those who died crying mizu or "water" - messages of peace are written on the sides and they're sent down the rivers.

Nagasaki memorial. I think it's really peaceful (and it feels like you're underwater)

One of the most lovely nights, we spent in a restaurant as the only people speaking English, eating delicious yakitori.

These are strands of paper cranes - gifts of 1000 are given at these memorial ceremonies in memory of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who contracted leukemia after Hiroshima, and started to fold 1000 paper cranes (which traditionally gives you a wish). Stories differ, but the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum says she finished, and has some of her cranes there. She died in 1955, aged 12.

Sushi.

It's hard to express the highs and lows, and how close we got to our peace families. Here, we're on top of a mountain in Nagasaki overlooking the harbor, on almost our last night.

I was interviewed by NHK, a TV station in Japan, about my experience at the Nagasaki ceremony.

We returned to Tokyo, and the electronic city was closed.

I have so many more photos, but this will have to do for now.