The Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims opened in August 2002 with the purposes of commemorating the noble sacrifice of those who perished in the atomic bombing, and offering prayers for perpetual peace, on behalf of the nation. The Hall has the further purpose of deepening the understanding of people all over the world regarding the tragedy of the atomic bombing and passing on the survivors’ experiences of it to posterity.

Inside the Hall there is the Hall of Remembrance, which presents a panoramic view of the cityscape in the wake of the atomic bombing, seen from near the Shima Hospital, which was the epicenter. In the Victims’ Information Area, the names and photographs of deceased atomic bombing victims are on public view, communicating the facts of the many people who perished in the bombing. In the Library, visitors can read/watch materials including bombing memoirs and bombing testimonial videos. In the Temporary Exhibition Area, special exhibitions are mounted on particular themes centered on the bombing remembrances, to convey the reality of the atomic bombing.

Further, sessions where bombing remembrances and poetry are read aloud are also held here. The audience members listen to the readings with the scenes in their minds, and also read the words out themselves with their own voices. Thereby, what the bombing was like comes across to them with the feel of being actually there. By all means attend one of these sessions and come in contact with the survivors’ hearts and words.