Examples of how our website can be used for education

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Textbooks

Introduction

The materials and slide resources published on this website can be used in educational settings such as schools. This page provides information and suggestions for how to use them effectively, based on previous educational practices.

Why Focus on Everyday Life Before the Atomic Bombing

The destruction caused by the atomic bomb is unimaginably cruel. For instance, when we see the charred remains of a boy exhibited at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, we tend to forget that the boy had once lived an ordinary life before his tragic death. And yet, surely, he was alive that day—he must have had favorite foods, things he was passionate about, just like us.

To understand what the atomic bomb took away, it is essential to first understand the everyday life that existed before it was dropped. That is why the “Pre-Atomic Bomb Everyday Life Archive” intentionally focuses on photos capturing ordinary moments with family and friends. Although these photos, taken over 80 years ago, may appear old and feature different styles of clothing, the moments shared with loved ones in them transcend time. No matter how much the world changes, there are some things that remain constant.

What Is War?

In particular, the slide teaching materials attempt to capture the everyday life before the bombing not only right before the atomic bomb was dropped, but across a broader time span—from the pre-war period through to the wartime era. This approach helps learners trace how Japan entered into a time of war and what the atmosphere was like during that period. We often refer to the present day as “postwar,” but as ongoing wars around the world show us, complacency can easily lead us back into a “prewar” state. By exploring historical events from the perspective of everyday life, rather than simply as textbook facts, we can start to see connections to our own lives today.

Learning Contexts

We recommend using the materials on this site as supplementary resources during peace education—such as on school trips or during summer programs focused on learning about the realities of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (especially the events following August 6 and 9). They can also be used as preparatory materials prior to such studies.

Points to Keep in Mind When Learning

When using the materials on this website for educational purposes, please keep the following points in mind:

  • Some photos depicting everyday life during wartime include happy and joyful moments with family and friends. However, this is similar to how people still shared moments with loved ones even during difficult times, such as the COVID-19 lockdowns. When teaching especially younger students, such as elementary school children, care must be taken to avoid the mistaken impression that “life during wartime was fun.”

  • At the time, photography itself was an expensive activity. For most ordinary people, taking photos meant visiting a photo studio on special occasions such as coming-of-age ceremonies. A single camera cost as much as six months of a teacher’s salary, making it a luxury item. Therefore, the people appearing in candid photos of everyday life with their families were generally from relatively affluent households. (Some photos were also taken by professional photographers for school graduation albums.) Please avoid the misconception that “life during wartime was actually rich or luxurious.”

  • Some of the photos in the materials and slides have been colorized using AI. These are not originally taken in color; they are black-and-white images that have been color-enhanced by artificial intelligence. As such, the AI may have inaccurately colored some elements, such as clothing, and may not faithfully reflect the actual colors of the time.

Example Lesson Using the Slide Materials

Below is an example of a 50-minute class using the slide teaching materials:

Flow of the Lesson (50 minutes):

  1. Introduction: Explain the goals and structure of the lesson (5 minutes)

  2. Discuss Preconceptions about Wartime and the Atomic Bomb: Group work or hand-raising (5 minutes)

  3. Explain Historical Context Using Slide Materials: Teacher-led presentation (15 minutes)

  4. Group Discussion on Impressions from the Slides: Sharing reflections (10 minutes)

  5. Class-Wide Sharing: Groups report to the whole class, teacher supplements as needed (10 minutes)

  6. Conclusion and Wrap-Up: Summary of key points (5 minutes)

Sample Group Discussion Questions:

  • Which slide left the biggest impression on you, and why?

  • What new insights did you gain by learning about daily life during wartime or before the bombing?

  • Are there any similarities between yourself and people from that era?

  • Has your understanding of the reality of the atomic bomb changed in any way?

Aerial Photographs

Introduction

The aerial photograph archive published on this website can be used in schools and in peace education efforts aimed at conveying the realities of the atomic bombing. This page provides tips and ideas for effective use of the archive, based on previous educational practices.

Purpose of the Aerial Photograph Archive

The key feature of the aerial photograph archive is that it allows users to compare scenes before and after the atomic bombing. For example, users can observe how the damage varied depending on the elevation of mountains and flatlands, or examine what neighborhoods looked like before they were reduced to ashes. In addition to pre- and post-bombing views, current aerial photographs are also available. When used in fieldwork with tablets such as iPads, this tool allows students to learn in a new way—by seeing how the places they stand today once looked before the bombing and how they were affected by it.

Learning Contexts

We recommend using the aerial photograph archive in the following situations:

  • When learning about the realities of the atomic bombing through survivor testimonies: Using maps can help people unfamiliar with the local geography—such as those from other prefectures or countries—understand the relationships between locations mentioned in testimonies and the scale of the damage.

  • During fieldwork: Tablets can be used to explore how the current location looked before the bombing and how it was destroyed by the atomic bomb. In “Map 2,” still photographs taken before and after the bombing are mapped out, covering areas from Peace Park to the surroundings of Shiroyama Elementary School. Viewing these still photos along with their geographical context helps learners extract more detailed information.

Points to Keep in Mind When Learning

Please consider the following points when using the materials on this website in an educational setting:

  • You can not only move around the map but also change angles and zoom in. For more information, please refer to the operation instructions.

  • Walking while using a tablet can be dangerous. Always stop and check your surroundings before viewing the screen.

  • The aerial photograph archive uses a significant amount of data due to the large volume of information loaded at once. We recommend using it in an environment with a flat-rate data plan or stable internet connection.

Example Lessons Using the Slide Materials