The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, located in Naka Ward, was full of international visitors during the New Year's holiday. Some were from America and Europe, others were Chinese speakers and women from Islamic nations could also be seen. People stood in line to pray before the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims as if they were paying a visit to a shrine on New Year's Day. This has become a typical scene since the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum began the practice of opening its doors on Jan. 1, 2013.
The number of visitors to the A-bombed city, particularly from abroad, is steadily increasing. In the museum, they learn about the catastrophic damage to the city wrought by the atomic bomb. In the park, designated as a place of national scenic beauty, they tour the monuments and other memorial sites.
How many of these visitors, though, actually reflect on the fact that the obliterated part of town now beneath their feet was once the bustling commercial district called Nakajima?
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