Statue of the Atomic Bomb Victim’s Child

Statue of the Atomic Bomb Victim’s Child

The Statue of the Atomic Bomb Victim’s Child, also known as the “Children’s Peace Monument,” is located in Peace Memorial Park in Nakajima-cho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. It was erected on May 5, 1958 (Children’s Day in Japan) during the 33rd year of the Showa era. The statue is based on the Japanese girl Sadako Sasaki, who developed leukemia at the age of two due to exposure to the atomic bomb. Fear of death tormented Sadako from the moment she understood life. A fellow patient told her that folding one thousand paper cranes would make her well. This kind-hearted lie gave the little girl hope, and despite being weak, she kept folding paper cranes. She passed away at the age of twelve, still short of completing one thousand. Deeply affected by her death, her classmates launched an appeal across Japan to “erect a memorial for all children who died because of the atomic bomb,” receiving support from students in over 3,100 schools nationwide and from nine other countries. The Children’s Peace Monument was eventually built.

The Children’s Peace Monument stands 9 meters tall. Atop a triangular-round base is a bronze statue of a young girl holding up a golden crane, with statues of boys and girls symbolizing a bright future and hope on either side. The stone monument beneath the statue bears the inscription: “This is our cry. This is our prayer. For building peace in the world.”

Children's Peace Monument

Why go: The most well-known statue in Hiroshima

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Japan[Japan]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Hiroshima Prefecture [Hiroshima Prefecture]

City where the attraction is located: Hiroshima City [Hiroshima]