39. Ote-machi Townspeople Monument
The central part of Hiroshima
Became Ground Zero that day.
Even sorrow pressed in silence
Those left behind, those who returned
To be one united at heart --
The people who were the residents of this town -
Pray for the repose of their souls.
Explanation
Otemachi used to be a long narrow area of nine blocks stretching down from near the epicenter along the Motoyasu River. All of the houses in this area were completely burned down with the heavy loss of lives.
After the war, a public market was set up here and crowded with people seeking food and clothing.
Location : Ote-machi, Naka-ku