It was quite an experience to see the area, and as an American, slightly uncomfortable, too.
While there, a group of students from an exchange school interviewed us for a paper they were working on. Of course, the opportunity to interview Americans at this area was choice.
It's very interesting to see how others view us and pre-conceive their ideas about us. Questions like "After viewing this museum, do you have guilt or do you feel that because it is a different generation it should be looked past?" I think I understand what they were trying to ask, but what a shoe-horned question? I explained I felt neither way, rather that I don't feel guilty since it was done under an act of war--and as such, war is not pretty. I also explained that as a previous generation we should use the results to realize that we should do much to prevent similar actions from being taken--knowing especially the tragedy that resulted. I wonder how their report will turn out =).
It is very interesting to be in a Japanese museum to see the difference in perspective. A section of the museum called "Why did the US drop the bomb on Japan" essentially justified the action as stating that the US wanted public support for spending 2 billion dollars in development costs in the A-bomb. While an interesting perspective, I doubt that would be the only reason.
I strongly recommend visiting this museum (it costs 50 yen--less than a dollar) and the neighboring memorials and monuments.
There aren't many pictures inside the museum since while pictures were permitted, flash was not--and the museum was very dark. In addition to the memorials and monuments, you'll also find Hiroshima Castle in the mix as well.
Memorial Cenotaph (front), Eternal Flame (back--in pond), A-Bomb Dome (far back, left)
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