My train arrived at Hiroshima’s JR Station on a warm evening of mid-Autumn. The morning after I woke up quite early and I walked all the way from my hotel to the Peace Memorial Museum. Two things impressed me at first glance: despite the memories of its ominous name, Hiroshima appeared to be one of the most flourishing cities in Japan — and its girls were among the most beautiful I have ever seen(*) in my extensive travels through the lands of His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of the Rising Sun.
Peace Watch Tower
The Peace Watch Tower is installed at the entrance of the museum. The tower displays two panels: the first one indicates the number of days since the A-bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. A second lower panel indicates the number of days since the last nuclear test. When a nuclear test is conducted, the number of days is reset to zero to enhance the strength of the protest from Hiroshima.
And that morning of October, the second panel was counting “zero“: the day before North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test.
North Korea
North Korea is one of the most interesting countries in the world. And one of the most photogenic: this amazing collection of pictures was taken in occasion of the recent launch of a prototype intercontinental ballistic missile. A rare opportunity for journalists to travel through this closed half-peninsula, and document life beyond the iron curtain.
Credits
The photos come all from The Atlantic. Where credits are stated for each image.
Note (*)
Hiroshima girls are the most beautiful girls of Japan, with maybe the exception of those strolling, shopping and working in Tenjin — the fashion heart of Fukuoka.
