*Posting somewhat backwards, for the information for Hiroshima today is fresh in my mind. Look for a post on Kyoto and Miyajima tomorrow or the following day *

It’s currently Friday night, about 10:00 pm. It’s been a long past couple of days, for they’ve been filled of traveling between cities, which, in a foreign country speaking a different language than the one from your own, is never simply travel. It consists of figuring out the type of train you’re on, the time your train comes, the track number you’re on, and what car to get into. For example, yesterday, Cally were leaving Kyoto to go to Hiroshima. It’s only a couple hour trip, but it had its complications. The first complication arose in Kyoto at the massive Kyoto Station. I don’t know what the massive train stations in the U.S. are, but I’ve been to the major one in New York City, and the ones in Chicago (which probably don’t count.) Kyoto Station is a different beast altogether. If it were stripped simply to what a train station’s function is supposed to be – a place for trains – then it would still be relatively complicated, simply because there are so many different types of trains each with their own track; I think there are about 20 tracks at Kyoto station: some elevated, some on ground level, and perhaps a couple underground…but kyoto station is a humongous shopping mall, too. This is common to many major and semi-major stations in places such as Tokyo, Hiroshima, and others. I realize this is the case with many places in the U.S., too, but Japan takes this idea and amplifies it 100 decibels or so. It really seems like they designed some of these places using labyrinth maps as a model… I found everything from Subway, Mcdonalds, and high yen sushi shops, to Gucci, Gap, Calvin Klein, and golf stores… P.S. If you ever craved a Footlong Shrimp Sub from Subway, fly over to Japan

One of the benefits of the JR Pass is that you can get reserved seats for free, which means you can get tickets on non-smoking cars. You simply go to the ticket window, show the worker your JR Pass, tell them what trains you want and then receive your ticket(s). When she printed the tickets out, she handed us a 4×6″ graphic that said “This is a quiet car! Please be quiet!” Cally and I were intimidated by the prospect of a quiet car, remembering that most Japanese are extremely quiet as it is when in commute, even on the subway…so we figured that a Quiet Only car would be sensitive to a pin dropping… It turned out that it wasn’t really a big deal, though. There was even a guy talking on his cell phone…anyway, we had to board the Kodama Line, which is a JR train of the Shinkansen type…or perhaps it’s the Kodama train of the JR type of the Shinkansen line… Considering the size of the station, it’s relatively easy to navigate. There are not only signs, but assistants all over. The electronic train time displays alternate between Japanese and English information. Despite this, it still took Cally and I 20 minutes or so to find the right train. We looked up at the boards, but could find neither our train number, or the departure time displayed. After being pointed one direction from a worker, we’d go in that general direction, and then find another worker who would point us in a more specific direction: this eventually got us to our train with a couple minutes to spare.

Our destination was ultimately Hiroshima, but we had to make a transfer in Osaka (pronounced Ohhhhsaka) The first train, to Osaka, was only 25 minutes or so, however once in Osaka, we only had a 6 minute window to get off the train and get on the train to Hiroshima. We somehow completed this with success, but with not a minute to spare. We arrived at Hiroshima Shopping Mall…err, I mean, train station… an hour+1/2 later. 

Paper cranes constructed for world peace, in Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima. We all know it was the site where the first nuclear bomb was ever used for its intended purposes (aside from tests.) Nagasaki was three days later. Immediately upon arriving, a subtly sick feeling in my stomach was present (which has persisted right up until this post.) This was brought to my full conscious upon both walking through Peace Memorial Park and seeing the dome that the bomb exploded over (also located in the park.) The dome building, whose construction was completed in April of 1915, was built to stimulate the economy of Hiroshima. Its name was changed several times due to change in function. I believe it was last known as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. People have attributed the building’s skeletal survival due to the fact that the bomb exploded not on the ground Standing at the dome, I had never felt a more intense expression of true human nature in both the horrors we are capable of producing, and the peace that I believe we all innately strive for.

I didn’t take any pictures of the dome building or of Peace Memorial Park out of respect. I don’t necessary think it’d be disrespectful to take pictures with the right intention, but there are plenty of photos on the internet already, so there was no reason for me to do so. Also, to be completely honest, I emotionally couldn’t bring myself to take pictures. The weight of the area kept my arms at my side.

Despite the somberness constantly looming in the back of my mind, the present-day Hiroshima (pop. ~1,000,000) is lively and positive. It contains all the clothing stores, electronics shops, restaurants, night clubs, and bars that Tokyo and Kyoto does. At nighttime, the streets are filled with people enjoying visiting stores, chatting on their phones, or sipping sake after enjoying Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. 

peace

*scribbles*

more peace

eating hiroshima-style okonomiyaki 

wanting to make okonomiyaki at home

saying “gochisousama* to the okonomiyaki chefs

trying to read the faces

“assfort” and “bar pee” – i’ll explain, at least to the degree of my knowledge, later

comfortable room at k’s house

addictive marimba song at 7-11

small stores, bars

humorous t.v. shows

christmas lights on long hiroshima street

what can be advantageous about a conservative mind for betterment of a less-than-ideal world?

is hard work relative to our own selves, to our friends, family, our country, the world?

hard work hard play

ropeway ride to near-top of miyajima island

dreams of a world where money doesn’t exist and only innate desire to better human society does

beautiful things