 |
|
 |
|
Radiation Effects Research Foundation |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
DATA |
|
 Design: ABCC (Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission) Construction Department
Location: 5-2 HijiyamaKouen, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City
Purpose of Use: Laboratory
Completed in: 1950 (Could be 1952 or 1953)
map (mapion)
map (Google Map) |
|
|
This laboratory standing on the hill makes research on radiation effects
on human body. It originally targeted to make research, not treatment,
on A-bomb survivors. Thus many criticized insisted that this proved the
U.S. used Hiroshima as a nuclear test site*.
It has a unique vault rooftop. This was due to having recycled the U.S.
barracks, not a particular design adopted. The U.S. forces mass-produced
this type of barracks for battle front use during WWII**. Right after the
war, construction materials were scarce in Japan. The former barracks of
the U.S. forces were often used as school buildings or churches. It's your
rare chance to see such a large scale facility of this make still at work
and what's more you can look at it closely. This building makes you feel
the presence of the superpower U.S. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Footnote]
*Soon after the end of the war, the U.S. dispatched an investigation team to Hiroshima. They investigated the A-bomb damage. Later, President Truman ordered long-term research on radiation effects and the ABCC was established in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1947. In 1952, the ABCC in Hiroshima was relocated to the present site on the hill. The ABCC was solely supervised by the U.S. and people felt they were treated like lab animals. In 1975, due to the reorganization, the ABCC was renamed the RERF, which came to be managed by both the U.S. and Japan.
**The Japanese forces also had ready-to-assemble barracks but couldn't procure them a lot like the U.S. In fact, they built humble huts on site or seized private local houses for barracks.
[Access]
 |
[TRAM] 20 minutes on foot from Hiroden Hijiyama-shita tram station. Part of the upslope is steep. |
 |
[BUS] Take a bus bound for Danbara-chuo-keiyu, Daigaku-byoin-yuki from
Hiroshima Station, Haccho-bori, or Kencho-mae, and get off at Danbara-chuo bus stop. 20 minutes on foot. Use a public escalator from Hiroshima Saty shopping complex. |
 |
[CAR] Driving there is possible. Parking lot is available in its vicinity. |
[For Visitors]
The exterior can be observed anytime. Security is ordinary. House tour
is available during the open house in early August. In addition to the
open house period, admittance seems to be possible. Inquire in advance.
[Links]
Radiation Effects Research Foundation |
|
 |
Created on Aug 13, 2006 Last updated on Jul 13, 2008 Written by makoto Translated by jasmine Photos taken by makoto Camera: NikonD70 |
| Photos on this page are licensed under a Creative Commons License. You are free to copy and make commercial use of them under the conditions
"Attribution" and "No Derivative Works". [about copyright] |
|
|
|
|
|
 EAST DELTA INDEX |
|
|
|
| (CC) arch-hiroshima 2006 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
