Introduction

In fiscal 2009, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum will hold a special exhibition, “Yuichiro Sasaki Photo Exhibition.” It will be the second of two special exhibitions to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law. A native of Hiroshima, photographer Yuichiro Sasaki lived in and continued taking photographs of Hiroshima throughout the post-war period. In over 30 years, he took more than 100,000 photographs. His images—records of various events such as the devastation caused by the A-bombing, the city’s remarkable reconstruction history, and the frictions and strains that arose in the reconstruction process—are also regarded as the epitome of the post-war history of Hiroshima. “Part 2: Pledging Peace” looks at the city’s recovery during the first 30 years after the A-bombing, and its ongoing commitment to consoling the spirits of the deceased, providing support for survivors, and handing down the A-bomb experience. As their lives settled down, the A-bomb survivors, while struggling with a unique agony and grieving for the departed, wished for peace from the bottom of their hearts. The process of their wishes gradually taking shape and resulting in new activities is seen in this second set of 120 photographs.

Yuichiro Sasaki