Located in the heart of Hiroshima City, on a delta between two rivers, the beautiful Peace Memorial Park is both a place of relaxation for Hiroshima citizens and a popular tourist destination attracting visitors from around the world. This site commemorates the victims of the atomic bomb dropped on August 6, 1945—the worst tragedy in human history—and serves as a symbolic location for Hiroshima City, where prayers for world peace are offered.
After World War II, Hiroshima City was rebuilt from utter destruction into a beautiful city, which provides valuable insights for the reconstruction of cities around the world that have been devastated by various disasters. The World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) has partnered with Hiroshima City for its knowledge exchange activities. During the Technical Deep Dive (TDD) on Urban Land held in Hiroshima in October 2024, participants around the globe visited the Peace Memorial Park as part of the effort to deepen understanding of the city's efforts toward peace."
Amidst these efforts, the story of Hiroshima's recovery has become widely known even in Chile, located on the opposite side of the globe from Japan. CNN Chile, a globally trusted television network, featured the story of recovery centered on Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with interviews to Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and TDLC Team Leader Christopher Pablo, in its program “Pares Impares,” which focuses on public spaces and the people who live there. The program highlights how citizens collaborated to rebuild the city and create attractive public spaces.
Camila Soumastre, a journalist at CNN Chile, explains how the program came to be produced. “In the context of a world searching for solutions to resolve conflicts, Hiroshima captured our attention for its remarkable resilience and ability to rebuild after the devastation caused by the atomic bomb. A story that can be inspiring, considering the wars and attacks taking place around the world.”
Also, looking back at the process of producing the story, she realized that urban space is not only the place people inhabit, but also a carrier of values. In this case, it represents a reminder of atrocities that must not be repeated. Whether through its buildings, structures or memories, peace becomes palpable.
The story of Hiroshima's recovery continues to inspire cities around the world to create livable cities.
(Published with permission from CNN, with English subtitles added.)