Corregidor is a small rocky island in the Philippines about 48 kilometers west of Manila which is stragetically located at the entrance of Manila Bay. This island fortress stands as a memorial for the courage, valor, and heroism of its Filipino and American defenders who bravely held their ground against the overwhelming number of invading Japanese forces during World War II.

The Schlusselburg (Oreshek) fortress was the stronghold on the left flank of the Leningrad front and played a significant role in the frustration of Hitler’s plan to surround Leningrad completely.

These panoramas were taken on the 6th August 2005, 60 years after the bomb had been dropped. It was a bright sunny day from morning, cicadas were chirring noisily. Press helicopters were flying above the Peace Memorial Park and the calls of peace parties through loud speakers created a tumultuous atmosphere, on the contrary people silently praying for the victims were seen here and there, the contrast has been unforgettable.
　以下のパノラマは原爆投下から60年目にあたる2005年8月6日に撮影しました。その日、広島は朝から強い日差しが降り注ぎ、蝉時雨がうるさいほどでした。平和記念公園の周辺は報道関係のヘリコプターが飛び交い、平和団体のシュプレヒコールが拡声器から響き渡るなど騒然とした雰囲気でしたが、犠牲者を追悼し手を合わせ静かに祈りを捧げる人々の姿をあちこちで見ることができ、喧噪と静寂の対比が印象に残りました。

The US forces held the mopping-up campaign of the bombardments from the warships at the sea, the air strikes, the flamethrower with tanks, pouring gasoline into the entrance of the refugee caves, …
On June 23, commander Ushijima and the chief of staff Chou committed suicide in the headquarters underground trench located on the Mabuni hill, and the organized resistance by the Japanese troops was finished.

米軍は、この地域で海からの艦砲射撃、空からの空爆と機関銃掃射、戦車を先頭に火炎放射器による攻撃、ガソリンを流し込む等の壕への馬乗り攻撃による掃討戦を行いました。
6月23日、魔文仁の丘にあった司令部壕内で、牛島司令官、長参謀長が自殺し、日本軍による組織的な抵抗は終わりました。

One of the war’s bloodiest ground battles which lasted for over three months from April 1, 1945 to July 2, 1945 when the US forces declared the island secure and the end of the Battle of Okinawa.