HIROSHIMA – Renovation work on the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as Atomic Bomb Dome, has entered its final stages, with plans to repaint the iconic dome to its original color on track for completion by the end of March.
The World Heritage site has been ensconced in scaffolding since last September for the repairs, which are the fifth such full-scale renovation since the atomic bombing on Aug. 6, 1945.
The steel frame at the top of the hemispherical dome is currently being restored to its former olive brown, based on color photographs taken by the U.S. military immediately after the bombing. Cracks in the walls and pillars are also being reinforced with cement and other unobtrusive materials. The total cost of the renovations is expected to be about 80 million yen.
"When the novel coronavirus is under control, we hope people will come see the Atomic Bomb Dome having regained a trace of its original appearance, and think about the realities of the atomic bombing," a Hiroshima city official said.
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