Remarkable relic from the August 6, 1945, atomic bombing of Hiroshima—a 5.75″ tall ceramic sake bottle, with its exterior exhibiting burn damage from the intense heat it was exposed to during the blast. The bottle remains intact, with the original shiny glaze visible on the very bottom. Every other part of the bottle shows the destructive effects of the blast, its glazing marred and bubbled all over. Much like the 'shadows' left on stairways from those incinerated by the bomb, the bottle shows a dark side and lighter side, with a clear demarcation between the two (the dark side having faced away from the explosion). There is also a dimple on the lighter side, where the bottle puckered from the effects of heat exposure. The bottle is housed in a simple wooden box, inscribed inside the lid in ink in Japanese (translated): "July 21, 1946—memorial piece recovered from the rubble and dust of destroyed houses where also human remains were found. This is put in the temple as a memory of the loss of life." A poignant, chilling piece embodying the devastation at Hiroshima. Accompanied by a display case.
