29. Futabano-sato at Toshogu Shrine Monument
“Give me water!” “Give me water!”
At Toshogu Shrine, where survivors struggled to reach,
Some could have spring water,
Others couldn' t.
This is the place of rest
For those countless people.
Explanation
Toshogu Shrine is located at 2.2 km from the hypocenter. The worship section of the shrine was destroyed by the blast pressure. Then, fire spread to the shrine from the Second Military General Headquarters, but soldiers' fire-fighting saved the shrine from burning down.
Many victims came here to take refuge right after the A-bombing. A makeshift first-aid station was set up on the shrine approach beneath the stone steps, and relief operations started on the same day by the military and medical parties.
There was a well nearby. Some people survived thanks to the water. Others died from drinking too much water. Life or death was also decided depending on the degree of the burns and wounds.
On August 5, 1966, the monument was erected to remember what happened here.
Tanka poems, composed by many poets, describing how miserable the A-bombing and war are and wishing for peace, are inscribed both on the front and the back of the granite fence placed at the gate of the shrine approach.
It was erected in 1995 to remember the 50th year of the bombing with the cooperation of Hiroshima Prefecture Tanka Poets Association. An explanation is also engraved in English.
Location : Toshogu Shrine, Futabano-sato, Higashi-ku