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The capital city of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan is Hiroshima (広島市, Hiroshima-shi, /ˌhɪroʊˈʃiːmə/; also known as /hɪˈrɒʃɪmə/ in the UK and /hɪˈroŊʃʪmə/ in the US) (pronounced [çiʍoʔima]). Its estimated population was 1,199,391 as of June 1, 2019. In 2010, the GDP of the Greater Hiroshima area also referred to as the Hiroshima Urban Employment Area, was estimated to be around US$61.3 billion. Kazumi Matsui has been the mayor of Hiroshima since April 2011. Only the Okayama metropolitan area is larger than the city’s metropolitan area in the Chugoku region of Japan.
Hiroshima was first established in 1589 as a castle town on the Ōta River delta. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Hiroshima quickly developed into a prominent urban and industrial center. It was officially designated as a city in 1889. During Japan’s imperial era, Hiroshima was a key military hub, playing significant roles in conflicts such as the First Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, and both World Wars.
History
Early History
The area where modern Hiroshima now stands was once a small fishing village on the shores of Hiroshima Bay. Beginning in the 12th century, the village experienced significant growth and economic prosperity, largely due to its connection with the Zen Buddhist temple, Mitaki-Ji. This newfound prosperity was partly driven by increased trade throughout Japan, facilitated by the influential Taira clan.
Sengoku and Edo Periods (1589–1871)
Hiroshima was officially established in 1589 by the powerful warlord Mōri Terumoto, who chose the delta coastline of the Seto Inland Sea as the site for his new city. Shortly after its founding, Hiroshima Castle was constructed, and by 1593, Mōri Terumoto had moved in. The name “Hiroshima” translates to “wide island” in Japanese.
However, Terumoto’s fortunes changed following the Battle of Sekigahara, where he was on the losing side. The victorious Tokugawa Ieyasu stripped Mōri Terumoto of most of his fiefs, including Hiroshima, and awarded Aki Province to Masanori Fukushima, a daimyō who had supported Tokugawa.
From 1619 until the abolition of the feudal system in 1871, Hiroshima was governed by the Asano clan, which played a crucial role in the city’s development during the Edo period.
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Meiji and Showa Periods (1871–1939)
Following the abolition of the Han system in 1871, Hiroshima became the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture. The city rapidly transformed into a major urban center during the imperial period, as Japan’s economy shifted from a predominantly rural base to urban industrialization. In the 1870s, Hiroshima was chosen as the site for one of the seven government-sponsored English language schools, highlighting its growing importance.
The construction of Ujina Harbor in the 1880s, spearheaded by Hiroshima Governor Sadaaki Senda, further established Hiroshima as a key port city. The extension of the San’yō Railway to Hiroshima in 1894 and the creation of a rail line connecting the main station to the harbor played significant roles in military logistics during the First Sino-Japanese War. During this conflict, the Japanese government temporarily relocated to Hiroshima, with Emperor Meiji setting up his headquarters at Hiroshima Castle from September 15, 1894, to April 27, 1895. The city’s importance was underscored by the fact that the initial peace talks between Chinese and Japanese representatives to end the war were held in Hiroshima from February 1 to 4, 1895.
The late 19th century saw the establishment of new industrial plants, including cotton mills, which bolstered Hiroshima’s industrial base. The city’s industrial growth continued with the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, which necessitated the production of military supplies. In 1915, the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition Hall was constructed as a hub for trade and the exhibition of new products. It was later renamed the Hiroshima Prefectural Product Exhibition Hall, and then the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. This building, now known as the A-Bomb Dome, is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and has been a World Heritage Site since 1996. It remains preserved in its ruined state as a symbol of the city’s history.
During World War I, Hiroshima became a center of military activity as Japan joined the Allied forces. Approximately 500 German prisoners of war were held on Ninoshima Island in Hiroshima Bay. After the war, Hiroshima continued to grow and attracted international attention, including from the Catholic Church. On May 4, 1923, an Apostolic Vicar was appointed for the city, further indicating its increasing prominence.
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World War II and the Atomic Bombing (1939–1945)
During World War II, Hiroshima was a significant military hub, housing the Second General Army and Chūgoku Regional Army headquarters. The Army Marine Headquarters was situated at Ujina port, making the city a critical center for military supplies and shipping.
Despite the widespread bombings that devastated Tokyo and other Japanese cities, Hiroshima had not been targeted for air raids. Nevertheless, the threat of such attacks was recognized. To mitigate potential firebombing damage, schoolchildren aged 11 to 14 were mobilized to demolish houses and create firebreaks.
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m. (Hiroshima time), the American B-29 Superfortress, Enola Gay, piloted by Paul Tibbets, dropped the atomic bomb “Little Boy” on Hiroshima. The explosion instantly killed at least 70,000 people, including thousands of Korean forced laborers, with fewer than 10% of the casualties being military personnel. By the end of 1945, the death toll due to injury and radiation had risen to between 90,000 and 140,000. The city’s population before the bombing was around 345,000. The bomb destroyed approximately 70% of Hiroshima’s buildings and severely damaged another 7%.
During the Allied occupation of Japan, the release of film footage from Hiroshima and some research findings by the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission were censored. Information about the human effects of the bomb was restricted until the Treaty of San Francisco was signed in 1951, restoring control to the Japanese.
As noted by Ian Buruma, the US military censors withheld news of the atomic bomb’s effects from the Japanese public during the occupation. Casualty statistics and film footage shot by Japanese cameramen in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were confiscated. The article “Hiroshima” by John Hersey, published in The New Yorker, had a significant impact in the US but was initially banned in Japan. According to historian John Dower, the trauma was compounded for the local population by the fact that public discussion of their suffering was not permitted.
The US authorities maintained control over scientific and medical information about the bomb’s effects through the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission. The data collected from studies on hibakusha (bomb survivors) was treated as privileged information and was not made available to aid victims or provide financial or medical support.
John Hersey’s book “Hiroshima,” originally published as an article in The New Yorker on August 31, 1946, narrates the experiences of six bomb survivors immediately before and four months after the bombing. The book reached Tokyo in English by January 1947, and a Japanese translation was released in 1949. Although initially planned to be serialized over four issues, the entire issue of The New Yorker was dedicated to the article.
The oleander (Nerium) was designated the official flower of Hiroshima because it was the first to bloom after the atomic bomb explosion in 1945.
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Postwar Period (1945–present)
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On September 17, 1945, Hiroshima was struck by the Makurazaki Typhoon (Typhoon Ida), resulting in severe devastation. Hiroshima Prefecture recorded over 3,000 deaths and injuries, accounting for about half of the national total. The typhoon destroyed more than half of the city’s bridges and caused significant damage to roads and railways, compounding the city’s hardships.
After the war, Hiroshima underwent a comprehensive reconstruction, aided by the national government through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law passed in 1949. This law provided financial assistance and allocated land previously owned by the national government and used by the Imperial military for the city’s rebuilding efforts.
In 1949, a design was chosen for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, the closest surviving building to the bomb’s detonation site, was designated the Genbaku Dome (原爆ドーム) or “Atomic Dome,” becoming part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum opened in the Peace Park in 1955. Additionally, Hiroshima Castle was reconstructed in 1958.
The city also features a Peace Pagoda, built in 1966 by Nipponzan-Myōhōji. Unlike traditional stone pagodas, this one is uniquely made of steel.
In 1949, Hiroshima was proclaimed a City of Peace by the Japanese parliament, initiated by Mayor Shinzo Hamai (1905–1968). This designation attracted international attention, making Hiroshima a desirable location for hosting international conferences on peace and social issues. The Hiroshima Interpreters’ and Guides Association (HIGA) was established in 1992 to assist with interpretation for these conferences, and the Hiroshima Peace Institute was founded in 1998 within Hiroshima University. The city government continues to advocate for the abolition of all nuclear weapons, with the Mayor of Hiroshima serving as the president of Mayors for Peace, an international organization mobilizing cities and citizens worldwide to eliminate nuclear weapons by 2020.
On May 27, 2016, Barack Obama became the first sitting United States president to visit Hiroshima since the atomic bombing. More recently, the 49th annual G7 summit was held in Hiroshima in May 2023.
Geographically, Hiroshima is situated on the Ōta River delta, facing Hiroshima Bay and the Seto Inland Sea to the south. The river’s six channels divide the city into several islets.
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Geography
Climate
Hiroshima has a humid subtropical climate, marked by cool to mild winters and hot, humid summers. The city experiences a seasonal temperature lag, with August typically being the warmest month, rather than July. Precipitation is distributed throughout the year, though winter tends to be the driest season. The heaviest rainfall occurs in June and July, while August generally sees sunnier and drier weather.
Wards
Hiroshima is divided into eight wards (ku):
- Naka-ku
- Higashi-ku
- Nishi-ku
- Minami-ku
- Kita-ku
- Asaminami-ku
- Asakita-ku
- Aki-ku
Cityscape
Demographics
In 2017, Hiroshima had an estimated population of 1,195,327. The total area of the city is 905.08 square kilometers (349.45 sq mi), resulting in a population density of 1,321 persons per km². As of 2023, the city’s population is 1,183,696.
In 1910, Hiroshima’s population was around 143,000. Before World War II, the population had grown to 360,000 and peaked at 419,182 in 1942. Following the atomic bombing in 1945, the population dropped to 137,197. By 1955, the city’s population had returned to pre-war levels.
Surrounding Municipalities
Hiroshima is bordered by several municipalities within Hiroshima Prefecture:
- Kure
- Higashihiroshima
- Akitakata
- Hatsukaichi
- Akiota
- Kitahiroshima
- Fuchū
- Saka
- Kumano
- Kaita
Economy and Infrastructure
Major Industries
Hiroshima is home to several major industries and companies, notably:
- Mazda Motor Corporation
- Shipbuilding: Major shipyards in the area include those operated by Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, JMUcor, IHI Kure Works, and Mitsui.
- Machinery Manufacturing: Notable facilities include Mitsubishi HI Kanon and Eba Works, as well as IHI Kure machinery.
Health Care
Hiroshima offers a robust healthcare infrastructure, with numerous hospitals providing comprehensive medical services:
- Hiroshima City Hospital
- Hiroshima City Asa Hospital
- Hiroshima City Funairi Hospital
- Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital
- Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital
- Hiroshima University Hospital
- Japan Post Hiroshima Hospital
- JR Hiroshima Hospital
Media
Hiroshima is served by a variety of media outlets:
Newspapers
The primary local newspaper is the Chūgoku Shimbun, which publishes both morning and evening editions.
Television Stations
Television stations in Hiroshima include:
- Hiroshima Home Television
- Hiroshima Telecasting
- Shinhiroshima Telecasting
- RCC Broadcasting
Radio Stations
Radio broadcasting in Hiroshima is diverse, with stations such as:
- Hiroshima FM
- Chugoku Communication Network
- FM Fukuyama
- FM Nanami
- Onomichi FM
Public Broadcaster
Hiroshima receives broadcasts from NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, providing both television and radio programming.
Documentary
The Maxwell Rayner TV Co. produced a documentary about Hiroshima, released in 2012. This documentary offered general information about the city, contributing to its media landscape.
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