LAST DAYS IN JAPAN

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial

Last Tuesday, The Holmes visited The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the only structure left standing at the site of impact of Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. This place is a reminder of the destructiveness of war and a symbol of peace.

After this visit, the family went to Itsukushima Shrine in the island of the same name. The shrine dates back to the 6^th century, although the current complex of building was built in the mid-16^th century. The famous red gates to the shrine are said to cleanse all who pass through them. 

On Wednesday, they visited The Todaiji Temple at Nara. It was built in the 8^th century by Emperor Shomu, and was once the biggest and most important Buddhist temple in Japan.

This Thursday, The Holmes have visited Kinkaku-ji, Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist Temple originally built as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in the late 14^th century.

為せば成る
為さねば成らぬ何事も
成らぬは人の為さぬなりけり

Naseba naru
nasaneba naranu nanigoto mo
naranu wa hito no nasanu nari keri

If you try, you may succeed.
If you don’t try, you will not succeed.This is true for of all things. Not succeeding is the result of not trying.

 Japanese Proverb