On the 6th of August, 1945 at around 8.15am local time, an atomic bomb was exploded half a kilometre above the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Two thirds of the city was destroyed along with over 85% of all medical and nursing personnel. The heat and extreme winds that followed the explosion were enough to destroy even the most solid of structures, let alone the inhabitants of the city. People walked around naked with third degree burns to their bodies.

The rain that followed was radioactive. Those people that had survived the explosion were poisoned by the water supply. Radiation poisoning was to affect the next two generations to follow.

Hiroshima was used as a test site with no warning from the Americans of the potential destruction this weapon could cause. Three days later, a hydrogen bomb was expoded above Nagasaki.

Today, Hiroshima boasts itself as an International Peace City. Trees have been donated from all over the globe to assist in the restoration of the city. The area directly below where the bomb was exploded has been developed into "Peace Park". Many monuments have been erected in this area to remind the many millions of visitors of the fruitlessness of atomic warfare.

On a personal note, I have very fond memories of my travels throughout Japan. I had the opportunity to visit the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, the cultural cities of Kyoto and Nara, the Buddhist area of Koya-san as well as Hiroshima. I stayed with friends and made a few new ones along the way. Simply magic!!