The Path to Restoration- Ten Years of History after the Atomic Bombing-FOREWORD

Seventy-five years have passed since the Nagasaki atomic bombing. The city
was destroyed and it was said that no trees or grass would grow for seventy
years. However, the city rose from the ashes and as a city of peace, hascontinued to appeal to the world for the abolition of nuclear weapons andeverlasting world peace.
The turning point of the city’s development during post-World WarⅡ wasmarked by the enactment of the “Nagasaki International Cultural City
Construction Law” in 1949. Under this law, various projects were carried out,
including the transformation of the atomic bombing hypocenter and its
surroundings into the Peace Park. With the completion of the park in 1955, theobjective of the law was considered, in large part, accomplished.
This special exhibition uses photos to show drastic transformation of the cityand life in the city during the ten year span between 1945 and 1955.
We sincerely hope that visitors will learn about the amount of loss caused by
the atomic bombing, the poverty that followed the war, and the strength ofhuman resilience in overcoming adversity.
In closing, I would like to thank the Photo Survey Group in the Nagasaki
Foundation for the Promotion of Peace, Ms. SAKAIYA Shizuko and everyone
involved in organizing this exhibition.

The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum Special Exhibition“The Path to Restoration -Ten Years of History after the Atomic Bombing ‐”・Period: February 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021
・Venue: Special Exhibition Room, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Life Immediately after the Atomic Bombing
Everything in a two kilometer radius around the hypocenter of the atomic
bombing was almost entirely destroyed and the area was turned into a wasteland.
The city center, located beyond Mt. Konpira, was also heavily damaged by the blastand fires. Many injured people flooded the makeshift aid centers that managed toescape destruction, creating chaos.
Soon after, those who survived were faced with a new problem: on top of dealing

with the damage caused by the atomic bombing, how were they going to survive
tomorrow?

View of the Hypocenter from AboveNorthern Nagasaki City
Date: 1945
Photographer: H.J. Peterson
Credit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

View of the Nagasaki City Centerfrom Above Mt. KazagashiraDate: 1945
Photographer: H.J. Peterson
Credit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

From Restoration to the Reconstruction of the City
On August 15, 1945, as people all over the city worked tirelessly on restoring thecity and providing relief to those injured, the war came to an end. Not long after,
Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers. In September, Allied occupation forceswere stationed in Nagasaki and began occupation.
In October, the Nagasaki Military Government Team was established and, by orderof the Allied occupation forces, the local government began removing debris fromthe destroyed areas of the city, restoring infrastructure, and rebuilding schools.
However, nothing could be done to solve the housing shortage, which was a resultof building removal measures (during the war, buildings were demolished tocreate space between the land to curb the spread of fire) and devastation causedby the war. Although relief housing was built, repatriates and returnees fromabroad, and those coming back from evacuation caused a population surge which
exacerbated the problem.
Amid such turmoil, on November 12, 1945, 115 cities including Nagasaki wereselected in the government’s plan to restore areas devastated by the war. On
November 30, 1945, the Cabinet approved the “Basic Policy for the Reconstructionof War-damaged Areas.”
Based on this basic policy, Nagasaki City planned its postwar reconstruction plan

which consisted of plans for lands usage, roads, and open spaces. With thecooperation of the Nagasaki Prefecture, the city began working on the project.

Parent and Child Living in a Shack
Date: September 16, 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Makeshift Homes
Date: 1946
Photographer U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Using a Horse-drawn Carriage to
Move
Date: September 16, 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Interaction Between a U.S. Military
Policeman (MP) and Citizens
Date: October 10, 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Clearing Land at Northern
Iwakawa-machi
Date: April 30, 1946
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Relief Housing in Iwakawa-machi
Date: April 30, 1946
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Food Shortage
In addition to the housing shortage, the food shortage was another major issue.
Rationed goods were not enough for people to live on and they needed a way to getfood themselves. People started small gardens near their houses to grow potatoes
and vegetables or went to the black market to buy food and supplies.

People Gathering for Food Ration
Distribution

People Gathering for Food Ration
Distribution

Date: September 24, 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Date: September 24, 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Vender near the Nagahisa Bridge

Vender near the Nagahisa Bridge

Date: September 16, 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Date: September 16, 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

The Restoration of Stores
Shortly after the main unit of the Allied occupation forces entered into port, there
was a rise in demand for souvenirs. Stores including Hamaya Department Store andOkamasa Department Store were designated to be souvenir shops for the Allied
occupation forces. Women’s clothing, dolls, lacquer crafts, and fine arts and crafts
were sold in high volumes at the Hamaya Department Store.
However, when the main force of the Allied occupation forces moved to Sasebo Cityin the end of the year, business from soldiers began to dwindle.
Building removal during the war and damage caused by the atomic bombing left the
shopping district in disrepair. Stores needed to be rebuilt from scratch.
As official prices were set low, goods outflowed to the black market, slowing
business in the shopping district. It took a while for the shopping district to recover.

U.S. Solider Shopping at a Souvenir Shop
Inside Okamasa Department Store(located at the present-day
HAMACROSS411) that sold souvenirs for
U.S. soldiers.
Date: December 8, 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Higashi Hamano-machi Street
Date: unknown
Photographer: Ed Rogers
Credit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

The Restoration of Fisheries
The fishing industry immediately contributed to the revitalization of the Nagasaki
economy. An abundance of sardines from 1946 to 1950 led to the rapid
improvement of the equipment and infrastructure needed for the fishing industry.

Nagasaki Fish Market
Date: December 8, 1949
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Fish Boat Docked at Nagasaki Fish Market
Unloading Fish at Nagasaki Fish Market
Date: December 8, 1949
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki A

Date: December 8, 1949
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

The Restoration of Shipyards
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works faced a major
drop in demand after losing its biggest pre-war client and purchaser of warships,
the Japanese military, after its post-war dismantlement.
They were left with no choice but to dismiss 20,000 workers. The remaining
workers tried to revitalize business by making household pots, repairinglocomotives, and building fish boats, whaling ships, and small passenger-cargoships.
The shipbuilding industry gradually recovered when the “Shipbuilding Program”
was launched in 1947 in which the government offered financial support for
shipbuilding industries.

Building a Large Quantity of Fishing
Boats

Household Goods and Farm Tools Madeafter the End of War until the End of 1946

Date: unknown
Photographer: unknown
Credit: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works

Date: unknown
Photographer: unknown
Credit: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works

Tategami Pier on the Day of the
Shipbuilding Festival
On April 23, 1946, the Shipbuilding Festival washeld to boost morale among workers. The
shipyard, a highly classified military facility
during the war, was opened to the public.
There were exhibition booths of each of thefactories, places to buy merchandise, anddragon dance performances which were wellreceived.
Date: April 23,1946
Photographer: unknown
Credit: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works

The Restoration of Streetcars
Nagasaki’s streetcar system sustained heavy losses due to the atomic bombing.
Among the operating 36 streetcars, 16 were lost in the fires and 5 were heavily
damaged. Further, at least 108 employees were confirmed dead. Despite this,
employees worked tirelessly to resume the streetcar’s operation, spurred on by theslogan “Nagasaki’s recovery begins with the streetcar.”
In November 1945, operation along the Nagasaki Station, Nishi-Hamano-machi,and Hotarujaya lines resumed and operation to other areas soon followed. The lastremaining route, between Nishi-Hamano-machi and Shianbashi was finally back inoperation in July 1953.

Nagasaki Electric Tramway Ohashi Office

Nagasaki Station Tram Stop

Date: September 16, 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Date: 1945
Photographer: U.S. MilitaryCredit: Nagasaki Foundation for the Promotion of
Peace Photo Survey Group

Ohashi-machi Iron Bridge Vicinity

Dejima Tram Stop Vicinity

Date: 1952
Photographer: unknown
Credit: Nagasaki City

Date: 1945
Photographer: unknown
Credit: Nagasaki City

Becoming a City of International Culture
The Nagasaki International Cultural City Construction Law was passed
unanimously at both houses of the Diet on May 1949.
The purpose of the law was the promotion of international exchange in order torealize Nagasaki’s ideal of everlasting world peace. Nagasaki, a city located in thewesternmost part of Japan, has a history of being Japan's gateway for international
exchange, and from a geographical standpoint, an internationally “key” position
with its close proximity to China and the countries of Southeast Asia. By further
developing these unique features, the law aimed to give the city a boost during its
recovery from the tragedy of the atomic bombing.
Since this was a special law dedicated to one specific local authority, a referendum
was held on July. This was the first referendum since the establishment of the new
constitution. With a high voter turnout of 73.5% and 98.6% voting in favor, the law
was overwhelmingly supported and enacted in August 9 of the same year.

Consequently, the “Policy for the Reconstruction of War-damaged Areas” wassucceeded by the “Nagasaki International Cultural City Construction Project,” that
included construction of an athletic field and commemorative facilities such as theInternational Culture Hall and Peace Park. In a five year span, the war-damaged
area reconstruction/land readjustment project, restoration of road traffic network,
and installation of the water supply were carried out throughout the entire city,
especially in Urakami area, which was particularly damaged by the atomic
bombing.

Pavement Construction at Nagasaki
Station Square
Date: June 1951
Photographer: MATSUO Nobuyoshi
Credit: Nagasaki Foundation for the
Promotion of Peace Photo Survey Group

Road Improvement Construction Site
Date: July 1951
Photographer: MATSUO Nobuyoshi
Credit: Nagasaki Foundation for the
Promotion of Peace Photo Survey Group

Back-filling Work at the Road
Improvement Construction Site
Date: August 1951
Photographer: MATSUO Nobuyoshi
Credit: Nagasaki Foundation for the
Promotion of Peace Photo Survey GroupDutch Slope
Date: 1955
Photographer: unknown
Credit: SAKAIYA Shizuko

Nagasaki Station Vicinity
Date: 1955
Photographer: unknown
Credit: SAKAIYA Shizuko

View of the Hamaguchi-machi Area fromthe International Culture Hall
Date: 1955
Photographer: unknown
Credit: Nagasaki City

Festivals and Events
Festivals and events invigorated the citizens who had been facing a great deal ofhardship. One of the major events was the “Nagasaki Kunchi Festival.” Many of theneighborhood groups who performed at this festival were severely affected by thewar, having lost their tools and implements in the fires. However, on October 7,
1945, less than two months after the bombing, volunteers performed a votive
dance dedication and this humble performance following the chaos at the war’s end
uplifted the citizens’ spirits and also led to the revival of the Kunchi Festival.
Other festivals were also held and the city started to come back to life.

Nagaki asKunchi Festival
Date: October 1946
Photographer: OGASAWARA Masami
Credit: Nagasaki Foundation for the
Promotion of Peace Photo Survey Group

Nagasaki Reconstruction Festival
Date: November 1946
Photographer: OGASAWARA Masami
Credit: Nagasaki Foundation for the
Promotion of Peace Photo Survey GroupNagasaki Reconstruction Peace Expo
Date: April, 1952
Photographer: SAKAIYA Shuichi
Credit: SAKAIYA Shizuko

Costume Parade During the Port Festival
Date: April 1955
Photographer: Unknown
Credit: SAKAIYA Shizuko

Peace Initiatives
One month after the atomic bombing and the end of the war, memorial services forthe deceased were held around the city. Three years later, on August 9, 1948, thecity of Nagasaki hosted the “Culture Festival,” a memorial service for the victims of
the atomic bombing. On April 1949, the city of Nagasaki established the Committee
for the Preservation of Atomic Bomb Artifacts to collect and preserve valuable
articles related to the atomic bombing. In a section of the atomic bombing
hypocenter in Matsuyama-machi, the wooden hexagonal Nagasaki City Atomic
Bomb Museum (also known as Rokkaku-do, lit: “Hexagon Hall”) was opened topreserve and exhibit what was collected in May of the same year.

Peace Park was also completed in February of 1955. Construction had been goingon since 1951 as a part of the Nagasaki International Cultural City Construction
Law and took place in the Matsuyama-machi area where the hypocenter of theatomic bombing was. In April 1955, two months later, the Nagasaki International
Cultural Hall was built on a hill located in the hypocenter which was still
undergoing reconstruction and the Hall had full-scale preservation and exhibition
facilities. It came to represent the feelings of the people as they brought themselves
out of the tragedy left in the wake of the atomic bombing.
At the same time, the five-year Nagasaki International Cultural City Construction

Project reached its conclusion and in August 1955, the Peace Statue was erectedwith donations from Nagasaki citizens, other places in Japan, and abroad.

Joint Memorial Service held at the Front of
the Ruins of the Urakami Cathedral
Date: November 23,1945
Photographer: unknown
Credit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Mayor Ohashi Delivering the Peace
Declaration
Date: August 9, 1949
Photographer: unknown
Credit: Nagasaki City

Nagasaki City Atomic Bomb Museum
Date: unknown
Photographer: unknown
Credit: Nagasaki City

Construction of the Peace Statue
Date: May 1955
Photographer: SHIMOHIRA Takatoshi
Credit: Nagasaki Foundation for the Promotionof Peace Photo Survey GroupAFTERWARD
The hypocenter of the atomic bombing was a wasteland. However, within only adecade, houses were built and the city came back to life. The April 1955 edition of
the city’s promotional magazine ran the headlines “International City Construction
Project Nearly Complete” and “Infrastructure in Downtown Mostly Completed.” Ina city policy speech of the same year, it was stated that the five-year plan of theNagasaki International Cultural City Construction Project was nearly complete;
however the atomic bomb survivors were suffering from the wounds and diseases
they sustained from the bomb’s heat, the blast, or radiation exposure and could notafford treatment due to poverty. They faced hardship every day.
Not only did they face discrimination and prejudice for being victims of thebombing, they also lived with the heavy loss of family and friends upon their hearts.

In 1957, two years after the completion of the Nagasaki International Cultural Hall,a symbol of the Nagasaki International Cultural City Construction Project, and 12
years after the atomic bombing, the Law on Medical Care for the Atomic Bomb
Survivors was put into place, which marked the beginning of a long-awaited
medical support system for the atomic bomb survivors.

Abridged Chronological Table
Year
1945

1946

Events in Nagasaki City

Events in Japan and Overseas

8. 9 Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki
8.14 Japan accepts the Potsdam
9.23 Allied occupation forces stationed in
Declaration
Nagasaki
8.15 Jewel Voice Broadcast made10. 3 Three stores (the Okamasa/Hamaya
by the Japanese Emperor
Department Store and Maruzen Branchannouncing the end of the war
Office) open as souvenir shops for the Allied 8.30 General MacArthur, theoccupation forces.
Supreme Commander for the
10. 7 Volunteers of Maruyama Higashi-kenban
Allied Powers arrives at theperform a dedication of a votive dance toAtsugi Airport
Suwa Shrine
11.12 Nagasaki City designated as eligible city the 11. 6 Dissolution of the zaibatsu
War-damage Restoration Policy(industrial conglomerates)
11.25 Streetcar operation resumes between
Hotarujaya, Nishi-Hamano-machi, andNagasaki Station

1.27 5,000 boxes of Japanese sardines unloaded
11. 3 Enactment of the Japaneseat the Nagasaki Fish Market. On October ofConstitution (comes into
the same year, big catches of sardines starteffect on May 3, 1947)
and continue until 1950.
4.23 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki
12.27 “Priority production system”
Shipyard & Machinery Works holds thewhich concentrated resources
Shipyard Festival
into the coal and steel
Facilities are opened to the public,
industries begins.
exhibitions are held, and merchandise is soldat the event
4.14 Enactment of the Anti1947 4.26 Designated areas decided for the Land
Readjustment for the Restoration of WarMonopoly Act (comes into
Damaged Area Project
effect on July 20)
4.17 Enactment of the Local
6－ Nagasaki Fish Market restored.
Autonomy Act (comes into
effect on May 3)1948 8. 9 Culture Festival held in Matsuyama-machi, tocommemorate the third anniversary of theatomic bombing. Vice-chairperson Mizokami
delivers the Peace Declaration on behalf ofthe citizens
10. 7 Nagasaki Kunchi Festival begins. Tenneighborhood performing groups take partin the festival.
1949 4－ The Committee for the Preservation ofNagasaki Atomic Bomb Artifacts isestablished
5－ Atomic Bomb Museum (known as the
Rokkaku-do) opens at the Hypocenter Park.
The Japanese Diet passes the Nagasaki
International Cultural City Construction Law
5.29 The 400th anniversary of the landing of St.
Francis Xavier in Japan is celebrated in
Nagasaki
7. 7 Referendum regarding the Nagasaki
International Cultural Construction Law isheld and is approved by a majority vote.

Year

1949

1950

1951

Events in Nagasaki City
8. 9 Enactment of the Nagasaki International
Cultural Construction Law
Nagasaki Mayor Ohashi delivers the
Nagasaki Declaration
11. 2 Completion of the Nagasaki City Bicycle
Racetrack
4.27 Nagasaki Port Festival is resumed tocommemorate the 380th anniversary since
the opening of the Nagasaki Port

6.25 Outbreak of the Korean War
8.10 Formation of Japan Police
Reserve Corps

3.31 Nagasaki International Cultural Construction
Project is decided
8. 9 Nagasaki City Peace Statue Construction Cosponsoring Association begins collecting
donation for the construction fee of thePeace Statue

9. 8 Signing of the San Francisco
Peace Treaty and the Japan
U.S. Security Treaty

4.28 Commencement ceremony for the Nagasaki
International Culture Hall held

8. 6 Asahi Graph magazine
becomes the first to release
photos depicting the damage
caused by the atomic
bombing (the magazine soldout immediately )10.15 Formation of National Safety
Forces

1952

1953

Events in Japan and Overseas

7. 1 Streetcar operation resumes between Nishihamanomachi and Shianbashi, restoring all
pre-war tram lines

1954

2.11 Inauguration ceremony of the Nagasaki
International Culture Hall held
4. 1 Nagasaki International Culture Hall opens
1955
8. 8 Unveiling Ceremony of the Peace Statue held
11.19 Formation of the Nagasaki Council Against
A- and H-Bombs

3. 1 U.S. conducts its firsthydrogen bomb test at Bikini
Atoll. The Japanese fishingboat Daigo Fukuryu-maru is
exposed to radioactive fallout
from this test.
6. 9 Formation of Self-Defense
Forces8. 6 The first World Conference
against A and H Bombs held in
Hiroshima