碇神社(いかりじんじゃ)は広島城が築城される以前、あたりが海だった頃からある、広島市内で最も古い神社の一つです。かつては緑豊かな鎮守の森があり、被爆直後の写真を見ると、建物はすべて焼け、黒く焦げた樹木が立ち並んでいます。そのなかで生き残ったタブノキは、根元から芽を吹き返し、見上げるほどに生長しました。ソメイヨシノも、地上に出ていた部分は焼けましたが、翌年には根元から芽吹き、春になると満開の花を咲かせます。
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Ikari Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Hiroshima City. It has stood since the area was the sea, since before Hiroshima Castle was built. Here, there used to be a vibrant green forest that protected the shrine, but looking at pictures from the area after the bombing, every building in the complex was burned and blackened trees lined the area. Of those trees, the tabunoki tree managed to survive, new buds sprouting back to life until the tree was so tall, you had to look up at it. The above-ground portion of the somei-yoshino trees were all completely burned away, but they came back the next year and blossom every spring in a brilliant display of color.