“The air smells different here,” a young boy whispered, clutching his father’s hand as they stood by the Kusatsu Fishing Port. The salty tang of the sea mingled with the scent of fish and something else, a faint metallic undertone that clung to the air. Kusatsu Fishing Port, a bustling hub of activity before the war, had become a lifeline for Hiroshima in the aftermath. Ships, once laden with goods and supplies, now ferried the wounded and desperate, seeking refuge from the ravaged city center. The boy’s father, a fisherman by trade, had returned to Kusatsu, his weathered face etched with a mixture of grief and determination. Kusatsu, once a symbol of Hiroshima’s prosperity, now represented its resilience. His heart ached for the city he knew, the bustling markets and the laughter of children playing by the water. Yet, amidst the devastation, Kusatsu offered a glimmer of hope. Here, boats were repaired, nets were cast, and life, albeit scarred, went on. Kusatsu Fishing Port, a testament to the enduring spirit of Hiroshima, a reminder that even in the face of unimaginable destruction, life, like the tides, would find a way.
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