Sounds of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Memorial Museum

I recently returned from a trip to visit family friends in Nagasaki with my sister. We had a great time: our friends were wonderfully generous hosts, and we packed in tons of sight-seeing. For the second time, I visited the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, a moving (disturbing and inspiring) experience. Upon entering the museum, I decided to make a mental note of the sounds I experienced throughout the exhibit hall, which commemorates the bombing and its aftermath. I divided the sounds into possible "tracks" for a recording, though they overlap as you walk through the museum. Here is what I noted:

1. Ticking clock. The first part of the exhibit highlights events leading up to the bombing on August 9, 1945.

2. Ominous music. Strings alternate between minor and dissonant harmonies. The next room commemorates the day of the bombing and the wasteland created around the epicenter.

3. Explanatory video. Accompanied by a 3D map of the city, this video explains the facts (historic and scientific) about the bombing and its immediate aftermath.

4. Tour guides (Japanese and Chinese). Two or three tour groups browsed the artifacts which document the effects of the bomb in different locations around the city. The intense energy at the hypocenter generated a massive blast of heat that caused stone tiles to blister and bubble, glass bottles to melt together, and shadows to be imprinted onto wooden houses and fences. Many of the deaths and injuries from the bomb were caused by severe burns, some of which developed much later after the attack. The long-term effects of radiation are also documented with explanations about various diseases caused by exposure, as well as a time-line of deaths caused by radiation-related illnesses. Tour guides give additional explanation to groups.

5. Survivor testimonials. Interactive TV monitors allow visitors to listen and watch survivors give their accounts of the bombing and make appeals for peace. My sister and I watched an account by a woman who was crushed in the rubble and suffered severe injuries. She spoke in Japanese, and we read English subtitles.

6. Museum closing announcement. The announcement was in Japanese, followed by English, accompanied by upbeat music.

One of the most valuable parts of the museum is a timeline of the nuclear age, which describes world events, the spread of nuclear weapons, and the spread of the peace movement worldwide. This is a great overview of the Cold War and anti-nuclear movement.

For more information about the museum in English, follow the link below.
http://www1.city.nagasaki.nagasaki.jp/peace/english/index.html