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Hiroshima

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Hiroshima is a large and important city in Japan.

Hiroshima Metropolitan Employment Area
Hiroshima Metropolitan Employment Area

It sits on a delta by the Seto Inland Sea. The name Hiroshima means "wide island" in Japanese. The city is the largest in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu. It is a major center for many people and businesses.

Hiroshima-Hondori Shopping Street at dusk 2
Hiroshima-Hondori Shopping Street at dusk 2

Today, the city has a population of over one million people. It is divided into eight different wards. The weather is often hot and humid during the summer. Winters are usually mild and cool.

Long ago, the area was just a small fishing village. This village was near a Zen Buddhist temple called Mitaki-dera. In 1589, a warlord named Mōri Terumoto founded the city. He built Hiroshima Castle on the delta coastline.

Hiroshima wards
Hiroshima wards

Later, the Asano clan ruled the city for many years. In the late 1800s, the city changed very quickly. It became a major center for industry and trade. The Ujina Harbor was built to help the city become a port. A railway was also added to help move things and people.

During the early 1900s, Hiroshima became a center for military activity. It played roles in several wars, such as the Russo-Japanese War. The city grew as new factories for things like cotton were built. Many people moved from the countryside to work in these new industries. The city also became a place for important talks between nations. In 1889, Hiroshima officially became a city. It was a very busy and growing place during this time.

In 1945, a very serious and sad event changed the city forever.

Emperor Showa visit to Hiroshima in 1947
Emperor Showa visit to Hiroshima in 1947

On August 6, at 8:15 a.m., the United States dropped an atomic bomb named "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. This was the first time a nuclear weapon was used in history. The blast destroyed about 70% of the city's buildings. Between 90,000 and 166,000 people died because of the bomb and its effects. One building, the A-Bomb Dome, is the only structure that still stands from that time. It is now a protected ruin in a memorial park.

After the war, the people of Hiroshima worked hard to rebuild.

Hiroshima FF 2011
Hiroshima FF 2011

The Japanese government helped provide money and land for this task. In 1949, the city was named a City of Peace. Now, it is a famous place for international meetings about peace. The city has a Peace Memorial Park and a museum to teach others. The oleander is the official flower of the city. This is because it was the first flower to bloom again after the bombing.

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🖼️ Images & Media (18)
File:Hiroshima Metropolitan Employment Area.svg
Hiroshima Metropolitan Employment Area.svg
File:Emperor Showa visit to Hiroshima in 1947.JPG
Emperor Showa visit to Hiroshima in 1947.JPG
File:Hiroshima wards.png
Hiroshima wards.png
File:Hiroshima population pyramid in 2020.svg
Hiroshima population pyramid in 2020.svg
File:Rijo-dori Street from platform of Hondori Station at dusk.jpg
Rijo-dori Street from platform of Hondori...
File:Hiroshima-Hondori Shopping Street at dusk 2.jpg
Hiroshima-Hondori Shopping Street at dusk 2.jpg
File:Hiroshima Zero Gate2 20160911.JPG
Hiroshima Zero Gate2 20160911.JPG
File:HiroshimaL&SUniv.jpg
HiroshimaL&SUniv.jpg
File:HiroshimaUniv SatakeMemorialHall.jpg
HiroshimaUniv SatakeMemorialHall.jpg
File:Hiroshima airport japan.jpg
Hiroshima airport japan.jpg
File:Astram line 6122 at Omachi station.jpg
Astram line 6122 at Omachi station.jpg
File:広島シティネットワーク路線図.png
広島シティネットワーク路線図.png

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