− Hiroshima Weekly −
Green Mover Moves ...
Next week will see the operation of the Green Mover on the streets of Hiroshima. This is the name for the new fleet of articulated tramcars to be operated by the Hiroden company on the Miyajima route. Last month, the first such vehicle was given the once-over at Hiroden's Sendamachi depot by groups of elementary school children, the elderly and infirm. At the depot, those in wheelchairs found that they could board the non-step vehicle very easily. The Green Mover, which is built in Germany, made three round trips between the depot and Hiroshima Station and 20 members of a civic group participated. Again, those in wheelchairs found they could board and alight very smoothly and with little fuss. One participant commented that the new tramcar was very smart. The elderly and infirm would find it a pleasure to use.
... into the 21st Century
A group of academics at Hiroshima City University have been taking a hard look at Hiroshima's transportation needs and recently mounted an exhibition at the university with the theme of the present and future aspects of light rail design in Hiroshima. One of the members of the group is from Germany, where Hiroden's new Green Mover is built, and he commented that the height of the step and the shape of the seats were very important factors to be considered if the tramcar, or light rail, was to become an accepted means of urban transportation.
Moving Ceremony
A ceremony was held on May 21 to mark the start of operations to move the monument to Korean victims of the atomic bomb inside the Peace memorial Park. The monument is presently located in Sakai-machi, on the west bank of the Honkawa river. One of the last acts of Mayor Takashi Hiraoka was to agree to move the monument inside the Peace Park. The new location will be on the east side of the river, very close to the Memorial Tower to Console A-Bomb Victims. The ceremony was attended by some 50 persons, including the Mr Takashi Hiraoka and his successor as Mayor of Hiroshima, Mr Tadatoshi Akiba. The decision to move the monument has been hailed as a major step in the improvement of friendly relations between Japan and South Korea.
Dome's Ningen Dokku
On the other side of the Peace Park, the A-Bomb Dome was given its third major health check during February and March. Considering the shock the building was subjected to on August 6 1945, it was found to be generally in a sound condition.
いせ屋
Iseya is an old-established restaurant situated in Kure, a stone's throw from the city hall. Opened in the 10th year of the Taisho era (1921), Iseya has been run by the same family ever since. Mr Mitsukuni Kano is the present manager and his grandfather, who started the restaurant, was a cook in the Japanese navy during the Second World War. The menu shows signs of Kure's history as a naval base, for one of the items is Kaigun-san no Niku-jaga ('meat & potatoes for the sailor'). Tel. (0823) 21-3817.
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「グリーン・ムーバー動き始める…」
来週には広島で「グリーン・ムーバー」が走っているのが見られるだろう。これは、広島電鉄が宮島線に走らせる新しい車両の名前である。先月この新しい車両は、広電の千田車庫で、小学生やお年寄り、身体の不自由な人たちにお披露目された。車椅子を使う人々は、この段差のない車両にとても簡単に乗れることが分かった。ドイツでつくられたグリーンムーバーは、広島駅と車庫を３回往復し、市民グループの20人も試乗したが、ここでもまた車いすの人が介助なくスムーズに乗り降りできることが分かった。参加した人の中には、この車両がとてもかっこいいと話す人もいた。お年寄りや身体の不自由な人はこの車両を使うことを喜んでくれるだろう。
「…21世紀に向って」
広島市立大学の研究グループは広島の交通需要を厳しく調査し、このほど同大学で、「広島におけるライトレールのデザインとその未来」というテーマの展示を行った。この研究グループの一人は広電の新しい顔グリーンムーバーがつくられたドイツの出身で、彼はステップの高さと座席の形が、路面電車、またはライトレールが都市の交通手段として受け入れられるための重要な要因となると語っていた。
「移設式」
５月21日、韓国人原爆犠牲者慰霊碑が、平和記念公園内に移設する起工式が開かれた。この慰霊碑は、現在堺町の本川の西側の川岸にある。平岡敬前市長の最後の仕事の一つが平和公園内への慰霊碑の移設であった。新しい設置場所は、川の東側の原爆供養塔のすぐ近くとなる。この式典には平岡敬前市長、秋葉忠利新市長を含む約50人が参加した。慰霊碑の移設決定は、日本と韓国の友好な関係を前進させる大きなステップとして歓迎されている。
「原爆ドームの人間ドック」
平和公園の反対側では、２月から３月にかけて原爆ドームの３回目の健全度調査が行なわれた。1945年８月６日に受けた衝撃を考えると、健全な状態にあることが分かった。
