Beneath a sky painted with hues of pearl gray and lavender flows the Kyū-ōta River. It’s a silent witness to history, a tranquil ribbon winding its way through the heart of Hiroshima. The Kyū-ōta River wasn’t always so peaceful. Once, it bore the name Ōta River, flowing majestically through the city. It even served as a strategic target during the devastating atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The aim point for the bomb was Aioi Bridge, which the Ōta River flowed beside. After that fateful day, a decision was made to reshape the city including the Ōta River. To control the flow of the river and prevent future flooding, a new flood-control channel was constructed. This channel, completed in the late 1960s, diverted the main flow of the Ōta River. The original path of the river, now a gentle tributary, became known as the Kyū-ōta River, meaning “Old Ōta”. Today, the Kyū-ōta River stands as a testament to Hiroshima’s resilience. It whispers tales of both tragedy and rebirth. The river’s gentle current seems to urge us to remember the past while embracing the hope of a brighter future.
芸州廿日市御本陣旧跡
“A castle built on the plain?” you might ask. “Isn’t that a bit…exposed?” And indeed, the Hiroshima Gokoku Jinja, the