Hiroshima Peace Museum's Main Building to Reopen on Thurs.

Hiroshima, April 24 (Jiji Press)--The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum's main building will reopen on Thursday, two years after it was closed to undergo seismic retrofit work. The museum, which shows the devastation of the western Japan city of Hiroshima from the U.S. atomic bombing in the closing days of World War II, also made changes to the exhibits at the main building, with new items, including things that belonged to hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, from abroad, going to be displayed. Hoping to help visitors better understand the severity of the devastation, the museum has increased the number of pictures and other exhibits while reducing the amount of written information. The revamped main building, which was shown to the press on Wednesday, will display a total of 538 items, with the number of photos to be increased by 61 and that of paintings created by citizens by 24. Hiroshima was flattened by the U.S. atomic bomb on Aug. 6, 1945. Also on display will be roof tiles and glass that melted due to the atomic bomb's heat, items of children who were mobilized as labor force during the war, and photos of people suffering from the aftereffects of the atomic bombing or in distress over the loss of their families. This was the third revamp of exhibits at the museum. The last change was made in 1991. "I hope visitors will feel the suffering and sadness of each hibakusha and bereaved relative," said Takuo Takigawa, who became the museum's head this month. Takigawa added that he also wants people to view the photos, paintings and other items to "hear the cry of the souls." END