Peace Park (Nagasaki City)

About

Nagasaki Peace Park is a roughly 18.5-hectare park established in 1951 under the Nagasaki International Cultural City Construction Law of 1949, spreading around the atomic bomb hypocenter area. It comprises five zones - wishes, prayer, learning, sports and plazas - with the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum in the learning zone. The park underwent major redevelopment from 1994 to 1997 for the 50th anniversary of the bombing. Its symbol, the Peace Statue by Nagasaki-born sculptor Seibo Kitamura, is a 9.7-meter bronze unveiled on August 8, 1955: the right hand pointing skyward signifies the threat of the atomic bomb, the outstretched left hand peace, and the gently closed eyes repose for the victims. The Fountain of Peace, an 18-meter-wide basin built in 1969 in memory of victims who died seeking water, also stands here, and the Peace Memorial Ceremony is held before the statue every August 9.