Built on a delta, this capital city of Hiroshima Prefecture is located in western Honshu and is known throughout the world for the atomic bomb devastation that occurred here on August 6, 1945. That event destroyed almost 70% of the city and killed tens of thousands of people instantly with tens of thousands more dying in subsequent days, months and years from bomb-related illnesses.

Hiroshima City was rebuilt after World War 2 and soon after became an international leader in initiating and supporting conferences that highlighted the importance of peace and conflict related social issues and policies. Countless world leaders have visited Hiroshima with its Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Dome (Genbaku Dome) as well as its thought-provoking and emotional museum to reflect on what occurred here over 60 years ago . In 1998, the Hiroshima Peace Institute was also established within Hiroshima University.