49 Peace Monuments
in Nagasaki (Japan)

This web page describes 51 peace monuments in Nagasaki.
Compare Hiroshima (about 75 monuments) & Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial (about 30 monuments).
Click here for monuments related to Nagasaki but not in Nagasaki.
Click here for peace monuments in Hiroshima. / Click here for monuments related to Hiroshima but not in Hiroshima.
Click here for peace monuments in Okinawa. / Click here for peace monuments in the rest of Japan.

Map (north at top) "Atomic Bomb Damage of Nagasaki." Shows 500 meter rings from hypocenter.

Interactive map (north at top) "The remains of A-bomb and Monument". Shows 69 monuments in 10 areas.

Interactive map (north at left) "Virtual Tour of Atomic Bomb Reminders and Memorials". Shows 27 monuments in 7 areas.

Right click image to enlarge.

August 9, 1945 - Ruin of Urakami Branch of Nagasaki Prison, Nagasaki Peace Park, Matsuyama-machi, Nagasaki (Japan). The closest public facility to the hypocenter.When the atomic bomb exploded at 11:02 a.m., August 9, 1945, all of the 134 people present in the building were killed instantly. Note peace bell & peace fountain in background of image. #6 of the 20 monuments on map of Nagasaki Peace Park.

August 9, 1945 - "Bombed Maria," Urakami Cathedral, Nagasaki (Japan). Head of a 2-meter Marian statue which became an unintentional monument when damaged by the A-bomb. Will be taken by Archbishop Mitsuaki Takami on a "peace pilgrimage" to Spain in April 2010 to meet its counterpart at the Gernika Peace Museum, thus marking the 65th anniversary of the A-bomb. Originally shipped to Japan from Italy in the 1930's.

Before 1955 - Monument at "Ground Zero" & ruin of Urakami Cathedral before restoration, Nagasaki (Japan). Photos taken in 1954 by members of the crew of the USS Wisconsin.

August 9, 1955 - Nagasaki Peace Park, Matsuyama-machi, Nagasaki (Japan). "With the adoption of the Nagasaki International Culture City Law in 1949, the site of the prison was allotted for the construction of the Peace Park." Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims and Urakami Cathedral are nearby.

August 9, 1955 - Prayer Monument for Peace (Peace Statue), Nagasaki Peace Park, Matsuyama-machi, Nagasaki (Japan). 9.7m tall bronze peace statue symbolizing a universal prayer for world peace and for the consolation of war victims. Created by Nagasaki-born Seibo Kitamura. The statue's right hand pointing upwards symbolizes the threat of the atomic bomb. The left hand stretching horizontally symbolizes peace. And the lightly closed eyelids convey the idea of an ardent prayer for the souls of the war dead.

August 9, 1955 - Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, 7-8 Hirano-machi, Nagasaki (Japan). Originally built as multi-purpose facility named Nagasaki International Cultural Hall. Entire structure converted into the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum in August 1975. New building dedicated in August 1995 on 50th anniversry of the bomb. One of 9 Japanese institutions described in brochure for 6th International Conference of the INMP in 2008. Click here for Wikipedia article.

March 1956 - Hypocenter Cenotaph, Nagasaki (Japan). Replaced several previous cenotaphs. See one example above. Note reconsructed southern wall of Urikami Cathedral at far right in the scond image.

1956? - Ruined southern wall of Urikami Cathedral with statues of the Madonna and John the Apostle. Moved to the Hypocenter and rebuilt. Middle image shows the two statues at the ruined cathedral before restoration. I assume that Madonna on the left is the same as "Bombed Maria" shown above.

March 1958 - Vault for the Unclaimed Remains of Victims, Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). Contains the skeletal remains of atomic bomb victims collected from Nagasaki City and nearby towns First dedicated in March 1958 for the repose of the victims' souls. New structure completed in June 1994.

1959 - Urakami Cathedral, Urakami, Nagasaki (Japan). Largest Catholic church in East Asia when completed in 1914. At ground zero of the atomic bomb. Restored in 1959. Had Western style bell. Ruined southern wall & statues of the Madonna and John the Apostle were moved to the Hypocenter and rebuilt. See above.

Date? - One-Legged Torii, Sanno Shrine, Sakamoto 1-Chome Street, 2-6-56 Sakamoto, Nagasaki (Japan). 900 meters from the hypocenter. "One of leg of this torii that was the entrance to a shrine was destroyed by the atomic blast in 1945. The other leg has since been restored and preserved as a historic monument." Torii seen in background of right image from 1945. When restored?

August 1967 - Statue of the Praying Child, near the Hypocenter, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). "It is estimated that about 10,000 children died in the atomic bombing. This memorial was erected to symbolize the aspirations for lasting world peace held by the citizens of Nagasaki, with the sympathy and support of peace-lovers and children all over Japan and the world. The base of the memorial is constructed using stones from each prefecture in Japan and from 15 foreign countries."

August 1967 - Nagasaki Korean Atomic Bomb Victims' Memorial, near the Hypocenter, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). "Inspired by the July 1967 discovery of the bones of Korean bomb victims at Seikoin in the Oura Motomachi district, this memorial is dedicated to the many Koreans who, having been forced into hard labor by the Japanese military, were killed in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki."

August 1969 - Fountain of Peace, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). Sprays water in the shape of a dove’s wings. Erected by Nagasaki City and the National Council for World Peace & the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons with donations from all over Japan. Signifies pity on people who died begging for water in 1945.

1970 - Peace Pagoda, Nakasaki (Japan). Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order. Visited by RH.

August 1971 - Shiroyama Peace Statue, Shiroyama Elementary School, Nagasaki (Japan). Also known as the "youth peace statue." "A dove perched on the left arm of a life-sized youth figure represents his dreams of peace, and the dove at his feet is symbolic of prayers for the repose of the souls of the many teachers, pupils, & women auxiliary volunteers who lost their lives."

August 1973 - Atomic Bomb Victims' Memorial, Side of the main gate, Nagasaki University Medical School, Nagasaki (Japan). Prior to the undertaking of an investigation by the City of Nagasaki to be used as the basis for the reconstruction of devastated areas, atomic bomb survivors from the Yamazato & Hamaguchi districts constructed a recovery map dedicated to their many neighbors who were killed. This memorial was erected using contributions included with the responses from neighborhood residents who had been asked for information to be used in making the map.

August 2, 1975 - Sumako Fukuda Poetry Memorial, near the Hypocenter, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). "Sumako Fukuda, well-known for many poems condemning the inhumanity of the atomic bomb & appealing for lasting world peace, died in April 1974 at the age of 52 after a long struggle with the after-effects of the bomb. Inscribed with her poem 'To Love Life' from the collection entitled 'The Atomic Field.'"

November 1975 - Memorial Statue for Reconstruction of War Damage, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan).

1975? - Peace Bell?, Nagasaki Airport, Omura Bay, Nagasaki Prefecture (Japan). Western style bell in tower on airport terminal roof. Airport opened May 1, 1975.

July 1977 - Nagasaki Peace Bell, Hill of Yamazato, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). Western style bell as from Urakami Cathedral which survived the A-bomb blast on August 9, 1945. "Erected...that we may pray for the repose of mobilzed students, willing obedient girls, forced laborer and A-bomb dead of the general public, and so that the cruel atomic bomb like that would not explode on this earth again."

1978 - World Peace Symbols Zone, on both sides of Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). City of Nagasaki invited donations of monuments from countries round the world. Image shows monuments donated by the USSR (1985) the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1975) & the German Democratic Republic (1981).

The following monuments can now be seen in Nagasaki's World Peace Symbols Zone: * A 1975 "Joy of Life" from Czechoslovakia, (donated to Nagasaki in 1980). * B 1978 "Relief of Friendship" from Porto, Portugal (Nagasaki's sister city). * C 1980 "A Call" from Bulgaria. * D 1981 "Monument of People's Friendship" from the former German Democratic Republic. * E 1983 "Protection of Our Future" from the city of Middelburg, The Netherlands (Nagasaki's sister city). * F 1985 "Statue of Peace" from the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. * G 1985 "Maiden of Peace" from the People's Republic of China. * H 1986 "Flower of Love and Peace" from Poland. * I 1987 "Hymn to Life" from the City of Pistoia, Italy. * J 1988 "Sun Crane of Peace" from the Republic of Cuba. * K 1988 "Monument of Peace" from Santos, Brazil (Nagasaki's sister city). * L 1991 "Infinity" from Ankara, Republic of Turkey. * M 1992 "Constellation Earth" from St. Paul, Minnesota, USA (Nagasaki's sister city). * N 1996 "Triumph of Peace over War" from the City of San Isidro, Argentina,. * 2006 "Te Korowai Rangimarie - Cloak of Peace" from New Zealand.

March 21, 1980 - "Relief of Friendship," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From Porto, Portugal (Nagasaki's sister city). Inscribed, "Homage of the City of Porto to the Atomic Victims of the Sister city of Nagasaki --November 1978."

August 26, 1980 - "Joy of Life," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Bronze statue 260 cm in height by Czech sculptor Jan Hána [1927-1994] showing a jubilant mother lifting up her baby in her arms. Made in 1975 but donated in 1980.

December 3, 1980 - "A Call," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From Bulgaria. "Symbolizes the struggle of youth in search of peace and harmony by depicting a woman with her arms stretched up."

May 31, 1981 - "Monument of People's Friendship," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From the German Democratic Republic (GDR). "Symbolizes the efforts for Peace and a happy future of Mankind, for the Friendship among the Peoples."

December 7, 1981 - Foreign War Victims' Memorial for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons & Establishment of World Peace, near the Hypocenter, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). "At the end of WW-II many Allied prisoners were being interned at Nagasaki, as well as large numbers of forced laborers from China & Korea, & many of these people were killed in the atomic bombing or in earlier American bombing raids. This memorial is dedicated to these foreign victims of the war, & was erected on the 40th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack as a pledge to work for the end of all war & the elimination of nuclear weapons."

June 10, 1982 - Tower of Folded Paper Cranes, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). For the deposit of origami peace cranes. Near the Prayer Monument for Peace (Peace Statue). Are there two of these?

August 3, 1982 - Statue in Memory of Schoolchildren & Teachers, in front of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, 7-8 Hirano-machi, Nagasaki (Japan). "Erected by schoolteachers for the repose of souls & to pledge that such a horrific tragedy may never again be allowed to occur. (The atomic bomb instantly killed some 5,800 students in their homes, as well as some 1,900 secondary students who had been mobilized for factory work, & about 100 schoolteachers. Radiation after-effects killed many more in the months that followed.)"

October 7, 1983 - "Protection of Our Future," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From the city of Middelburg, The Netherlands (Nagasaki's sister city). "Shows a mother protecting her infact-child from danger, representing that we must protect not only the present generation but also the coming generation as well so that the people of the world can live in peace together."

June 1, 1985 - "Statue of Peace," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). "Shows a mother holding her infant child as an expression of love and peace."

July 16, 1985 - "Maiden of Peace," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From the People's Republic of China. "Expresses the sincere aspiration of the Chinese people for human love and the everlasting friendship between Japan and the People's Republic of China."

August 2, 1986 - "Flower of Love & Peace," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From Poland. "Like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, like a flower grown out of stone, mankind affirms its existence when Peace reigns over the Earth." Resembles a tulip.

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1987 - Monument for the Nagasaki Flame of Commitment, near the Hypocenter, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). "Burns to symbolize the pledge that Nagasaki shall remain the last city on Earth to experience nuclear devastation, that nuclear war shall never again be waged, and that there shall be no more bomb victims." "The small flame was sent from Olympian city [sic] in Greece to Nagasaki in 1983. It is said that in ancient Greece all warring parties stopped fighting while the flame was burning during the Olympic Games. Thus, the Olympian Flame is also a symbol of peace. In the evening on every August 8 Peace Lanterns are lit from this flame."

July 31, 1987 - ":Hymn to Life," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From the City of Pistoia, Italy. "Depicts a mother holding her baby high in the air with both hands, an expresstion of love and peace."

December 10, 1988 - "Sun Crane of Peace," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From the Republic of Cuba. "The faces of the atomic bomb victims contained within the sun form a paper crane and symbolize the vital importance of peace."

Decemer 17, 1988 - "Monument of Peace," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From Santos, Brazil (Nagasaki's sister city). "An expression of the aspiration for perpetual world peace embranced by the people of Brazil."

March 23, 1991 - "Infinity," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From Ankara, Republic of Turkey. "The figure of a man and woman joined hand in hand symbolized peace and peace and harmony among the entire human race."

October 1992 - Constellation Earth, World Peace Symbol Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). Bronze sculpture by Paul Granlund [1925-2003] donated by the citizens of sister city St. Paul, Minneasota (USA). "The seven human figures represent the continents. The interdependence of the figures symbolizes global peace and solidarity." There are several copies of the same sculpture in the USA.

1995 - Oka Masaharu Memorial Peace Museum, 9-4 Nishizakacho, Nagasaki (Japan). Founded by private citizens to bring Japanese aggression to light. Located close to the central train station and just next to the memorial for the "26 Saints of Japan." (Information from Kazuyo Yamani 21Nov2015: "..an emphasis is put on Japan's aggression of other countries and there are exhibits on [comfort] women.")

March 31, 1996 - "Children Trusting in the Future," Nagasaki (Japan). "Erected in tribute to the young people of Asia who suffered in the fires of war while trusting in the furure... Represents two girls who disappeared into the sky over Nagasaki praying for a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons." Based on a painting by Hiroshi Matsuzoe and a letter from Mrs. Shina Fukutome, mother of one of the two dead girls depicted in the painting.

April 1996 - "Triumph of Peace over War," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). From the City of San Isidro, Argentina. "The parts of the sculpture other than the red sphere symbolize the chaos and death of war, while the red sphere at the top signifies the ultimate triumph of life."

Date? - Unidentified monument, Nagasaki (Japan). Depicts two children seated on a bench with doves.

Date? - Fountain Dedicated to Killed Christians, Glover Garden, Southern Nagasaki (Japan). Glover Garden is up-scale residential neighborhood with concentration of European residents

Date? - Unidentified monument, Nagasaki (Japan). "Planting the Seeds of Peace and freeing the dove."

Date? - Peace Planet Monument, Nagasaki (Japan). Globe says "People at Peace." "First Monument on the way to the Peace Park." "Up the hill from the Peace Park." A joint project of the Lions Clubs of Hiroshima & Nagasaki.

July 1997 - "Atomic Bombing 50th Anniversary Commemorative Projects Monument," Nagasaki (Japan). "By Nagasaki-born sculptor Naoki Tominaga. Expresses horror of the atomic bombing, prays for repose of the souls of the victims from whose noble sacrifice the buds of peace grew, & -- through the form of a stricken child sleeping in her mother's warm embrace -- reaches with great motherly compassion & pleas for eternal peace toward a prosperous Japan of the 21st century."

2002 - Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, Nagasaki (Japan). Constructed by the Government of Japan (as was a similar memorial hall in Hiroshima). Click here for the Wikpedia article. Click here for all examples of the phrase "peace memorial."

Fall 2005 - Totempole, Nagasaki (Japan). From St. Paul, Minnesota (USA) for 50th anniversary of sister city relationship. Dedication attended by mayor of St. Paul and many US Rotarians. Made by Ray Lefto, Master Wood Carver, who wrote, "We carved the pole as a whole and seperatly carved the American Eagle, wings and beeks."

October 21, 2006 - "Te Korowai Rangimarie / Cloak of Peace," Peace Symbols Zone, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki (Japan). By KingsleyBaird. "A gift from the New Zealand government, the cities of Christshurch, Wellington, Auckland, Napier, Whakatane and Waitakere and the Peace Foundation's Disarmament and Security Centre."

Future - Peace Sphere Monument, Nagasaki (Japan). Four circles in four walls depicting the earth. A project of A. Whittin Associates, Prague (Czech Republic).