Writer of the Epigraph

Keisen Sone

Shape

The characters "Irei" (consoling the souls of the departed) are inscribed on the front of a large fieldstone; the epigraph (in Japanese) is on the back.

Motive for the erection

The monument was built in prayer for the souls of those who died while on duty, and for everlasting peace in the world

Epigraph

"This dome housed the headquarters offices of 260 staffers of The Hiroshima District Lumber Control Corporation Japan's timber control agency during World War II. Over 100 executives and regular employees tragically died while on duty in and around the dome due to the A-bomb's detonation in the sky immediately above at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945. When permanent preservation of the Atomic Bomb Dome had been decided, at the suggestion of then-president Koichi Tanaka, surviving executives and regular employees gathered and built this monument in prayer for the repose of victims' souls, as well as for everlasting peace in the world. Workers of the two timber control agencies Japan Lumber Corporation Hiroshima Branch and Hiroshima Shipping Timber Co. who died while on duty are honored collectively.
August 6, 1967. By volunteers among executives and regular employees of The Hiroshima District Lumber Control Corporation"

Noteworthy characteristics

1. The Hiroshima District Lumber Control Corporation

The Hiroshima District Lumber Control Corporation was inaugurated in July 1944 by streamlining local timber control companies in Hiroshima Prefecture. At that time, 260 staff members were working at the headquarters, which had been relocated to the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall.

2. Transition of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall

As the war was prolonged and the situation grew aggravated, the scale of exhibitions in the Hall was reduced. On March 31, 1944, Hall operations were finally discontinued. It was decided that the Hall would be used for government and other public offices, such as the Interior Ministry Chugoku & Shikoku Civil Engineering Branch Office, as well as offices of the Control Union, including The Hiroshima District Lumber Control Corporation.

3. From the day of the A-bombing to one week later

On the day of the A-bombing, although working hours were set to start at 9:00 a.m., a one hour delay from the usual start because a red alert had been issued the night before, workers from suburban areas arrived at the workplace at 8:00 a.m. as usual. All persons inside the building were killed instantly.
One week later, The Hiroshima District Lumber Control Corporation placed its temporary offices in Kirin Beer Hall, where it continued its operations until around autumn.