Tokyo Memorial Hall

Tokyo Irei-do (Tokyo Memorial Hall) is a memorial to those unidentied Japanese who died in the Great Kant Earthquake, the Bombing of Tokyo in World War II and other catastrophes. In 1923, as many as 44,000 people were killed in this park when it was swept by a restorm. Following World War II, the park also became the location of the main memorial to the victims of the Bombing of Tokyo in 1944 and 1945. The ashes of 105,400 people killed in the raids were interred in Yokoamicho Park between 1948 and 1951.

The Soul of Japan

From the Ryogoku Station take the West exit. Walk passed the Sumo Hall back behind the Edo Museum. Work your way around that area and you should easily nd Yokoami Park and memorial hall.

Yokoami and the surrounding areas are excellent for a photowalk, especially now that the weather is clear, and the skies are thin and shy. You should be able to see Tokyo Sky Tree from every direction.

The signicance of visiting this area, at least for me that is, is the history of death that hangs over it. Death thats infused with beauty and pain. Beautiful in the sense that the whole area has been rebuilt so nicely that you can hardly tell that souls once cried out from the prickly ames that engulfed the elderly, the mothers, and children nearly 70 years ago, many whose bones were charred so severely that they couldnt even be identied. I was also reminded of another air raid that occurred in Tulsa Oklahoma in 1921 in the United States of America, and the impact it had left on generations of well to do Black Americans. History teaches us that the rst re bombings took place there and is the rst ethnic cleansing of its kind on American soil by air raid, and the rst ever air assault on Americans by Americans on an afuent community of church going African Americans. Many old churches and schools were destroyed and over 10,000 were left homeless. Over 1200 residences were also destroyed. 9 mlllion were left homeless in the Tokyo air raids. The death toll was not as high as the Tokyo Fire Bombings, but that does not lessen the crime nor diminish the atrocious nature of Americas Air Doctrine, or a lack thereof which at that time was in its infancy.

The Soul of Japan

(War Crime #1)Tokyo Fire Bombings

A mother and child who were burnt alive while running to shelter. She was carrying the child on her back. I wonder what General Curtis LeMay was thinking when he ordered these strikes? And why these unarmed non-combatants had to be targeted?

The Soul of Japan

This photo was taken by Ishikawa Koyo of more charred remains of innocent civilians after the re bombings. This was the single deadliest air raid of World War II; greater than Hiroshima, Dresden, and Nagasaki combined.

In this memorial hall, which is basically a temple, mourners come in to pay respects to their loved ones whose souls were lost. This gentleman wrote a prayer on one of the wooden placards to someone dear to him. He then places it on the alter and prays.

The Soul of Japan

The whole mood was a bit somber, yet hopeful. The elderly never forget. The young will. And then theres Tokyo, before and after. Look at how far this city has come. I look at the torch bearers of tomorrow, and whats in store for their future...

The Old have left behind a legacy of victory even in the face of defeat.

The Soul of Japan

This monument is dedicated to the peace and prosperity of the Japanese and for the sacrices of many precious lives in the air raids.

The Soul of Japan

Outside of the Memorial Hall, on the grounds of Yokoami, is a playground and an openair museum. There is history here. This is a busted water main that was pulled from out of the ground. The second picture is whats left of an automobile.

The Soul of Japan

The American air raid campaigns were extensive reaching as far as Taipei city in Taiwan, the then 48th prefecture of Japan, which at that time was called Taihoku Prefecture. As a matter of fact, the rst place I visited when I was in Taiwan back in 2007 was a place called Longshan Temple, the oldest temple in Taipei and one of the few existing structures that partially survived the American air raids. The guidebooks tell you this temple has a joyous mood and is a place that touristy when in fact the mood is quite somber and depressing. People arent snapping up photos there so much like they do here at Japanese temples. The Taiwanese pray fervently and its a serious place. I was overwhelmed that afternoon I was at Longshan Temple. Incense was thick and aromatic in the air. Old peoples eyes were closed tightly as they were chanting prayer in a language I did not know. There was no laughter and merriment there. The mood there was so dark and thick I could slice through it with a knife.

Taihoku Prefecture (Kanji: , Rmaji: Taihokush) was created in 1920 under Japanese rule, encompassing what is now New Taipei City, Taipei City, Keelung City and Yilan County. Its ofce, which is now occupied by the Control Yuan of the Republic of China, was in Taipei City. There was one city () and nine districts () in Taihoku Prefecture.

Thousands died and many more were wounded from incendiary bombs dropped by American bombers. America's strategic air assaults, all wars combines, have murdered millions of innocent unarmed non-combatants. More collateral damage for Americas history books to whitewash over - justify it.

On my third visit to Taiwan I stopped through Taipei City and a few other provinces where you can see remnants of Japanese military. The emperor of Japan hid in Taiwan during the Tokyo Raids, so its not surprising when hiking around the area you can see former colonial buildings with the Japanese imperial family crest still on them. I even visited the former bathhouse of the late emperor Showa in Peitou. I was so surprised at how many natural hot spring bath houses there were in Taiwan, and many with imperial ties. I have bathed in many of those hot springs, as well as a few in other countries. I have been baptized in history.

The Soul of Japan

The Soul of Japan