市立船越小学校

“Did they rebuild it, Papa?” a small voice asked, tugging at her father’s sleeve. He knelt, pointing towards the Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum. “Not all of it. This part remained, a scar and a reminder.” This is Fukuromachi Elementary School. It first opened its doors in 1873, in a Buddhist temple. It moved to its current location in 1876. The school changed names several times, reflecting the changing times. A modern, reinforced concrete west wing was added in 1937. But the world changed forever in 1945. On August 6th, the atomic bomb detonated a mere 460 meters away. Imagine the unimaginable. The wooden school buildings were instantly consumed by flames. Around 160 students and teachers perished. Only the concrete shell of the west wing endured. In the aftermath, the scorched walls of Fukuromachi Elementary School became a message board. Desperate survivors scrawled messages, searching for loved ones. “Have you seen my daughter?” one message pleaded. “Is my brother alive?” another questioned. The school itself transformed into a first-aid station, a refuge amidst the devastation. Classes resumed in May 1946, a testament to the human spirit. Imagine just 37 students, learning amidst the ruins. They used wooden boxes as desks and burnt wood for blackboards. The Fukuromachi Elementary School continued its mission, educating generations. Eventually, the hibaku building, scarred but standing, faced demolition. But during the process, something remarkable was discovered. Hidden beneath layers of plaster and behind blackboards, messages from 1945 emerged. These hibaku dengon, messages of the atomic bomb, offered a poignant glimpse into the chaos and hope of that fateful day. Today, this preserved section of the west wing stands as the Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum. It serves as a memorial to the lost, a testament to resilience, and a reminder of the importance of peace. Step inside and you’ll see photographs of the devastation, damaged objects, and those heartbreaking messages. They whisper stories of loss, hope, and the enduring power of the human spirit.