Overview

In 1995, Yokohama City held the "Yokohama Peace Prayer Exhibition 50 Years after World War II" focusing on information related to air raids and war damage in Yokohama, and published the "Yokohama Air Raid in Photos" as a catalog.

This time, digital images will be released on the website as the web version of the "Yokohama Air Raid in Photos" in order to further utilize the collections such as photographs.

The overall structure and table of contents are as shown in the catalog published in 1995, and texts such as commentary are also posted as they are. Some of the illustrations have been replaced.

(May 29, 2008)

With the 21st century approaching, the city of Yokohama, where we live, has developed as an international peace city with a population of about 3.3 million, as symbolized by the United Nations as a "peace messenger city."

On May 29, 1945, a large-scale air raid by a B29 bomber, most of the city area was destroyed, and nearly half of the citizens were damaged and turned into ruins.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Great Yokohama Air Raid. Taking this opportunity, we reaffirmed the actual situation of the war and air raids in Yokohama, and looked back on the relationship between civil life and war at that time, reconstruction and reconstruction of Yokohama, and each and every citizen reconsidered the value of peace. In order to provide an opportunity to open up a rich future, we held the "Yokohama Peace Prayer Exhibition 50 Years after World War II", focusing on the materials exhibited at this "Prayer Exhibition "Prayer Exhibition", "Prayer Exhibition".

With the passage of years, the number of people who have actually experienced war has decreased, and generations born after the war have now account for more than half of the population.

By introducing photographs related to air raids, civil life during the war, and requisition, many people will keep records of the disasters that have been sacrificed, learn as lessons learned from history without weathering, and pass it on to the next generation. I think it is truly significant.

For half a century after the Great Yokohama Air Raid, I hope that each and every one of us will be able to live a peaceful civil life with peace of mind without repeating the disaster of the war again.

Naosuke Takamura, a professor at the University of Tokyo, who is also a member of the Editing Committee of Fumiyo Yokohama City, asked for supervision. In addition, I would like to thank the many people who cooperated in publishing.

May 29, 1995

Mayor of Yokohama Hidenobu Takahide

1. This book is the exhibition materials of the "Yokohama Peace Prayer Exhibition 50 Years After World War II", which will be held from May 29 (Mon) to June 4 (Sun), 1995, and the process of the Yokohama City History Editing Project, etc. The main items related to war damage and air raids are selected and posted from the materials collected in the process.
2. The materials were arranged according to the theme and age, and brief explanations were given as appropriate.
3. At the end of this book, a list of publications is attached.