A Cathedral for Peace in Hiroshima
The Memorial Cathedral for World Peace (世界平和記念聖堂) is a reinforced-concrete church in Noboricho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, dedicated in 1954 and designated an Important Cultural Property on July 5, 2006. It was conceived to mourn the victims of the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945 and to pray for world peace, and was designed by Murano Togo (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a three-aisled church of reinforced concrete with a building area of 1,227.67 square metres, three storeys and a basement, with a bell tower and copper roofs; the main gate is designated with it. It is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Hiroshima and serves as the church of the Noboricho Catholic parish (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Hiroshima Prefecture).
The Road to Dedication
According to the Agency's detailed commentary, the cathedral was planned not merely to rebuild the bombed Noboricho Catholic church but as a place to mourn the victims and pray for peace. A design competition in 1948 produced no first prize, and Murano Togo, one of the judges, took on the design himself.
The foundation stone was laid on August 6, 1950, and the church was dedicated on the anniversary of the bombing, August 6, 1954. Hiroshima Prefecture credits the design to the Murano and Mori office (Murano Togo) with the structural engineer Naito Tachu.
Why It Was Designated
The Memorial Cathedral for World Peace was designated an Important Cultural Property in 2006 for its outstanding design. The Agency for Cultural Affairs regards it as a pioneer of post-war reconstruction architecture in the bombed city of Hiroshima, praying for world peace, and praises the composition and proportions of its church and tower.
Combining a Japanese character with the solemnity of a memorial, it achieved a religious architecture suited to a new age and is important as the starting point of Murano's post-war work (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
What to Look For
The Memorial Cathedral for World Peace is 20 metres wide at the front, 57 metres long and 20.5 metres to the eaves, with a drum of petal-shaped plan rising at the east end and a bell tower 45 metres tall on the north-west. It is a three-aisled basilica with the sanctuary to the east; the nave, 18 metres high, is in three tiers of arcade, cusped windows and clerestory, and the ninth level of the tower holds four peace bells sent from Germany (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Outside, the concrete frame is left exposed, filled with mortar bricks made by hand on site. The Agency notes that Murano said the building would be fully designed only ten years after completion, planning for weathering. Conservation limited repairs to damaged parts, recreated the bricks after about 30 trial mixes, and placed seismic strengthening inside to protect the exterior.
Visiting the Cathedral
The Memorial Cathedral for World Peace serves as the church of the Noboricho Catholic parish. We could not confirm official visitor information, so please be considerate of Mass and other services. The Agency for Cultural Affairs gives the address as 4-29 Noboricho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, while Hiroshima Prefecture gives 4-42 Noboricho.
Q&A
- When was the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace dedicated?
- On August 6, 1954, the anniversary of the atomic bombing (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who designed the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace?
- Murano Togo, with the engineer Naito Tachu according to Hiroshima Prefecture (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Hiroshima Prefecture).
- How big is the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace?
- A 57-metre three-aisled basilica with a 45-metre bell tower (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What are the outer walls of the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace like?
- An exposed concrete frame filled with hand-made mortar bricks (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace designated?
- On July 5, 2006.
Basic Information
| Name | Memorial Cathedral for World Peace (世界平和記念聖堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 4-29 Noboricho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 2006/7/5 (Heisei 18) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with main gate) |
| Dimensions | Three-aisled church, reinforced concrete, building area 1,227.67 square metres, 3 storeys and basement, bell tower, copper roof |
| Owner | Catholic Diocese of Hiroshima |
| Public Access | Church of the Noboricho parish (no official visiting information) |
References
- Memorial Cathedral for World Peace (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/00004079
- Conservation of the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/kindai/repairs_02/index.html
- Memorial Cathedral for World Peace (Hiroshima building stories, Hiroshima Prefecture)
- https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/soshiki_file/tatemonogatari/page002.html
Last verified: 2026.10.08