I've lived in Hiroshima for more than three decades and go past the old Bank of Japan building several times a week, and yet I had never been inside - until today!
This is the building that withstood the full force of the atom bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th 1945. The former Bank of Japan building was just 350 metres away from the hypocentre and the blast killed everybody inside the bank.
Incredibly, the bank reopened for business two days after the bombing, and remained the Bank of Japan's Hiroshima branch until the early 1990s.
Today, the former Bank of Japan building is dwarfed by the surrounding buildings, but back in 1905, when the bank was opened, it must have been an impressive site compared to the many wooden buildings that filled the city centre in those days.
The interior of the building has been renovated and the building is used as a venue for exhibitions. It is open every day and free to enter and look around. Even so, I had the building to myself when I went inside and looked around.
If you visit Hiroshima, be sure to visit the former Bank of Japan building, and pop upstairs to check out the manager's office... I'll explain why in my next post on this topic.
David Hurley
#InspiredFocus