In the year after graduating university I visited Japan, starting my trip in Tokyo and making my way slowly south over the course of roughly three weeks. As part of my route I visited Hiroshima, wanting to see the site of the first use of atomic weaponry.

I managed to arrive in the city just as the G7 Summit discussing nuclear disarmament was taking place. With the some of the major world leaders in attendance, the city was in a state of high security with roadblocks, a heavy police presence on every corner and almost no access to any of the main tourism spots.

There were large protests from the locals on the issue of nuclear weaponry, an understandably personal topic for the people of Hiroshima. The weather seemed to represent the mood of the locals with heavy rain for the majority of the trip.

On the days following the summit the weather changed. The sun came out and access to areas like the atomic dome and Miyajima island became more available. This is when I visited Hiroshima Castle, having recently had their Mantō-Mitima Shinto Festival. The lanterns swayed in the breeze and it felt like a different world to the Hiroshima from just a few days before.