“Memories of War Collected by Two Americans – Reflecting on Peace through Wartime Artifacts and Occupation-era Photographs” (Photos courtesy of Nagasaki Peace Museum)

This year marks 81 years since the end of World War II. In Japan, Nagasaki was the second site of a tragic atomic bombing detonated by U.S. forces on Aug. 9, 1945, marking the beginning of the end of the war.

Thousands died and the devastation was immense in both Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Today, both cities are host to peace museums and memorials to remember that loss and to remind future generations about the cost of war.

This summer, a special exhibit is coming to Nagasaki Peace Museum called “Memories of War Collected by Two Americans – Reflecting on Peace through Wartime Artifacts and Occupation-era Photographs.”

The exhibition runs from July 14 to August 9, and features photographs and war relics collected by two Americans, Philip Eakins, supervisor at Hazardous Material Minimization Center, NAVSUP and his nephew David Krigbaum.

Among the items loaned by Eakins and Krigbaum are photos in the Sasebo Naval Port area, a ceramic hand grenade, gas mask and air raid hood.

“I hope the photos and artifacts let visitors take a glimpse into the realities of life during the war, and that encourages visitors (regardless of nationalities) to reflect on the importance of peace,” Kyoko Yasuda, museum board member and organizer, said.

According to Yasuda, she met Eakins and Krigbaum at a museum in Sasebo City where she learned of their war item collections they’d obtain through various web auctions. Yasuda collaborated with them to exhibit pieces from their collections at the Nagasaki museum.

The Nagasaki Peace Museum is about an hour drive from Sasebo Naval Base and has features two floors of exhibits about the atomic bomb and creating peace. Admission to the museum is free.

Things to know

“Memories of War Collected by Two Americans – Reflecting on Peace through Wartime Artifacts and Occupation-era Photographs” (Photos courtesy of Nagasaki Peace Museum)