I Killed the King With My Lies

..Nagasaki..

..Where I realized how to love people..By myself..by the river…6PM sunset 1 block from hypocenter..
..Where I realized why I traveled across the world to meet these people..Where I found emotion in Nagasaki..

..The first time I saw the reflection in the small stream running next to the epicenter, this was when the devastation hit me. It’s one of the most moving photos I took. Peaceful but remorseful.

..I first saw the reflection of the archway in the shallow water. As August 9th, 1945 grew older the pile of bodies multiplied in the canal. Eventually making a dam of corpses which stopped the running water. The corpses piled almost to the top of the 20 foot archway.

Along with the reflection of the archway, I can see the reflection of innocent that didn’t need to die. Why did this happen? It didn’t need to. This image has more of an effect on me than the epicenter. How can a scene so peaceful be a grave 64 years ago?

..Where I realized what happened. Where I realized war is fucking shit..that kills the innocent..

..Nagasaki September 7th,2008..
One hour after train ride, little before sunset. First time at the hypocenter

..I thought the hypocenter would have drawn more of a crowd. Only 2 ladies and a father playing with his son wandering across the spot where one of the world’s greatest atrocities took place. The grass was very thin and spotted yellow from a summer long soaking of intense sunshine. Looked like any park in a forgotten neighborhood.

..September 8th, 2007 Second time at the epicenter, Nagasaki..
Walked to the epicenter at 6:30AM. A Japanese man walking across the park. Stops and bows in front of the monument. A deep bow. A sign of great respect. Continues to his destination. I wonder if this is how he starts most of his days?

..Nagasaki September 7th,2008..
One hour after train ride, little before sunset. First time at the hypocenter

..I thought the epicenter would have drawn more of a crowd. Only 2 ladies and a father playing with his son wandering across the spot where the world’s greatest atrocity took place. The grass was very thin and spotted yellow from a summer long soaking of intense sunshine. Looked like any park in a forgotten neighborhood.

..September 8th, 2007 Second time at the epicenter, Nagasaki..
Walked to the epicenter at 6:30AM. A Japanese man walking across the park. Stops and bows in front of the monument. A deep bow. A sign of great respect. Continues to his destination. I wonder if this is how he starts most of his days?