Okamoto's A-bomb mural in Tokyo to be restored

I've walked past it many a time going to Harajuku. It's between the Inokashira line and JR. Many tourists pass by it because of the trains and its location offers high views of the Shibuya scramble. The mural is so big you could not miss it. Atomic weapons are bad.

I have seen it. Had no idea its theme was a nuclear bomb, and I think would most visitors would not either.

Au contraire, it is part of the educational effort to ensure these weapons are not used again.

Hmm guess all those Americans in Shibuya are blind.

In any case important for people other than Americans to see these type of images as well.

It's only been 18 years since it was last restored prior to it being placed in Shibuya station. One would have thought that it would last a bit longer than that without constant care.

Some of the people in the photo are looking at it.

Some people say that the Japanese are pretending to be victims, but the use of weapons of mass destruction is clearly a violation of the Geneva Conventions, which the United States was supposed to have signed. Apparently there are rules in war too?

Unlike the Yota story where the victims of Nanjing and 731 are unknown, this is reality.

Peace-worshipping Japan - as the only atomic victim - has an obligation to educate the world on the horrors of nuclear war.

They also have an obligation to educate themselves on the horrors of their own war crimes, instead of just playing the victim on the topic of WW2

A nice work of art.

LegrandeToday  07:43 am JST

Hmm guess all those Americans in Shibuya are blind.

At this point you are only ensuring as many Japanese as possible see it, as common sense would dictate.

This is a marvellous mural - and once restored will be spectacular.

Peace-worshipping Japan - as the only atomic victim - has an obligation to educate the world on the horrors of nuclear war.

Zaphod

I have seen it. Had no idea its theme was a nuclear bomb, and I think would most visitors would not either

Without having been told, there is nothing in it to visually explain/convey what it is meant to represent. As a means of communicating a message it fails utterly.

wallace

Some of the people in the photo are looking at it

But nothing to say what they are thinking, it could be “what a garish, ugly, daub”?

Keepyer InternetpointsToday 12:01 pm JST

You could send it to the US and we would probably display it but not right where children pass by.

The last time I was in my foul and putrid homeland,

Do you ever stop to think to yourself that calling the US a foul and putrid country is a sign of your personal bias? Is it because we buried communism quite successfully? In any event, the US isn't going anywhere just like Russia and China aren't going anywhere so you should probably get used to it.

I got off the airplane and was greated by museum displays of military uniforms and other non-weapon pieces, such as canteens, medals, night vision gear and helmets. And this slightly sanitized war promotional display was there right before Christmas! For ALL to see.

You said it: non-weapon pieces. Too a child they aren't going to be any different than a firefighters outfit. Also I would also like to hear your outrage about a fricken massive military parade that Russia puts on every year.

And that is why displays like this are so important to be seen and talked about with children....to prevent them becoming the stupid adults who would adorn themselves with items that suggest they support the mass murder of civilians like themselves.

Children don't even know what countries, weapons, or wars are. Might want to wait until they have their first geography lesson before indoctrinating them.

Hito Bito

No Pearl Harbor, No Hiroshima. It's pretty simple.

Actually, not that simple. The pacific war did not begin out of the blue with no other background with the Pearl Harbour attack. And there was much controversy about using this new horrific weapon, which incidentally was first planned to be used on Germany (which surrendered before it was ready).

As always, historical context is important (which also applies to current conflicts, about which many people have strong opinions.)

You can name all the other times atomic weapons were used without using any fingers to count...Zero

The shock of seeing it in reality has left a lasting impression. Same goes for chemical weapons. Sadly, eventually someone will use it and create doomsday for all of us.

Children don't even know what countries, weapons, or wars are. Might want to wait until they have their first geography lesson before indoctrinating them.

Children must be quite different on your planet. Our toy stores here on Earth are full of war toys. Our schools teach geography in elementary schools. In some places like America kids are taught a lot about war and even how to shoot real guns at human shaped targets. Plus in America there is peer pressure to swear allegience to the nation flag.

I like your planet better. Is there a shuttle there or something?

Also I would also like to hear your outrage about a fricken massive military parade that Russia puts on every year.

My country has smaller more local military parades on the Fourth of July.and Veteran's Day. I posit they are smaller since America's war losses are miniscule compared to Russia in WWII. Did I mention that a big part of my issue was it was at Christmas time? Yeah, I think I did.

Do you ever stop to think to yourself that calling the US a foul and putrid country is a sign of your personal bias?

Yeah. I do. Its my bias created by my knowledge and ability to think for myself. Sure.

Is it because we buried communism quite successfully?

LOL. This is evidence that you cannot think for yourself, still following that "America won the Cold War" narrative and "Communism is evil" narrative/ simple minded rubbish.

Plus I clearly identified my issues and you apparently don't read or cannot remember what you read. Once again, glorifying the mass murder of civilians with atom bombs is extremely sick.

Keepyer InternetpointsToday 01:19 am JST

Children don't even know what countries, weapons, or wars are. Might want to wait until they have their first geography lesson before indoctrinating them.

Children must be quite different on your planet. Our toy stores here on Earth are full of war toys.

Yeah there are no simulated nuclear explosions in the toys I am aware of.

Our schools teach geography in elementary schools.

Yeah, colored blobs on a map. At age 8 for me. I didn't get WW2 until 11th grade I believe. Age 17.

In some places like America kids are taught a lot about war and even how to shoot real guns at human shaped targets.

Not by responsible parents. I never handled a real gun or even a decent facsimile until an adult.

Plus in America there is peer pressure to swear allegience to the nation flag.

Nothing wrong to being brought up to respect your country and to try to better it. It's to try to prevent citizens ending up like you, bent on revenge.

I like your planet better. Is there a shuttle there or something?

It's the same one you fled in fear from.

Also I would also like to hear your outrage about a fricken massive military parade that Russia puts on every year.

My country has smaller more local military parades on the Fourth of July.and Veteran's Day. I posit they are smaller since America's war losses are miniscule compared to Russia in WWII.

The absolute garbage you post. No active duty with guns, let alone tanks or missiles participate on the Fourth of July or Veteran's Day. The intention of the fascist Russian is to intimidate only. Russia, as a mere member of the Soviet Union, only needs to commemorate its losses, smaller though they are than the likes of Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltics. I guess it shows your completely skewed thinking that you excuse Russian fascism while pretending your own country is fascist.

Did I mention that a big part of my issue was it was at Christmas time? Yeah, I think I did.

And this is relevant to your nonsense how?

Do you ever stop to think to yourself that calling the US a foul and putrid country is a sign of your personal bias?

Yeah. I do. Its my bias created by my knowledge and ability to think for myself. Sure.

More like created by your cult-like worship of NIm Chimsky.

Is it because we buried communism quite successfully?

LOL. This is evidence that you cannot think for yourself, still following that "America won the Cold War" narrative and "Communism is evil" narrative/ simple minded rubbish.

Still quite buried for you. I'm so sorry you will forever be shouting that the US to surrender from the outside.

Plus I clearly identified my issues and you apparently don't read or cannot remember what you read. Once again, glorifying the mass murder of civilians with atom bombs is extremely sick.

No different than parading troops, tanks, and missiles in 2023.

ZaphodToday 03:30 pm JST

No Pearl Harbor, No Hiroshima. It's pretty simple.

Actually, not that simple. The pacific war did not begin out of the blue with no other background with the Pearl Harbour attack

Your right: there is the aggression of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

You could send it to the US and we would probably display it but not right where children pass by.

The last time I was in my foul and putrid homeland, I got off the airplane and was greated by museum displays of military uniforms and other non-weapon pieces, such as canteens, medals, night vision gear and helmets. And this slightly sanitized war promotional display was there right before Christmas! For ALL to see.

At the National Atomic Museum in Albequerque you can buy Fat Man and Little Boy earrings. And who is outraged besides myself? People seem to think this is all some kind of joke.

And that is why displays like this are so important to be seen and talked about with children....to prevent them becoming the stupid adults who would adorn themselves with items that suggest they support the mass murder of civilians like themselves.

Randy DaytonaToday  07:58 am JST

No American will see it. You could send it to the US and we would probably display it but not right where children pass by.

That's a contradiction of itself

No one will see it even tho it's on display

This logic is illogical by default

That's because reading comprehension is fundamental.

I challenge anyone who doesn't know what they're looking at to view that "art" and spontaneously conclude, "Oh, yeah, this is all about nuclear weapons." LOL.

Give me a break. Most people would ignore it because its ugly, and its "meaning" is lost to all but a very few already in the know.

No Pearl Harbor, No Hiroshima. It's pretty simple. You can name all the other times atomic weapons were used without using any fingers to count...Zero. And if some rogue state like Iran is allowed to develop "peaceful" atomic weaponry, then decide to use them to fulfill their decades-long promise to "wipe Israel off the face of the Earth", for instance? They won't give a damn about some abstract work from Japan.

Fightoo, Maybe Japanese should educate themselves,they live at the mercy of others,mainly the country that drop the bomb on them

LegrandeToday  07:04 am JST

Au contraire, it is part of the educational effort to ensure these weapons are not used again.

No American will see it. You could send it to the US and we would probably display it but not right where children pass by.

Doesn't seem like something you would want children to see.