HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima Castle

The 30 year anniversary event for Led Zeppelin's Hiroshima concert, namely "Led Zeppelin Tribute in Hiroshima", was held on October 8, 2001.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to join the main event. However, I entered Hiroshima on October 7, in order to join the evening event of the night before.
Taking this opportunity, I decided to travel several places in Hiroshima related to Led Zeppelin, before the evening event was started.

Map of Hiroshima

Led Zeppelin arrived at Hiroshima station (see (1) on the map) on September 26, 1971, 30 years ago from today.
I got on Bullet train at Fukuoka prefecture and arrived at Hiroshima station on October 7, 2001, in order to attend the evening event of the night before

Hiroshima Station

 

Led Zeppelin used Bullet train for touring around Japan.
We have several types of Bullet trains these days, but only this type was available when Led Zeppelin came to Japan. When I was taking pictures of this train, a middle aged gentleman, a hard-core train fan, talked to me and then taught me that this type had been originated in 1962,
Led Zeppelin kicked up a fuss on this train, and Japanese tour staff was terrified.

Bullet Train

 

A guy called "PEIJI", who is the owner of Japanese Led Zeppelin WEB site, "Houses of The Holy", was waiting for me at South exit of Hiroshima station.
PEIJI and myself went to Hiroshima prefectural gymnasium by taxi, where Led Zeppelin had a concert (see (2) on the map). It looks different from 30 years ago, as it has been reconstructed.

Hiroshima Prefectural Gymnasium

Before Led Zeppelin showed up on the stage at Hiroshima concert, the master of ceremony said "Good Evening! Your long awaited Led Zeppelin came to Hiroshima at last! The band came to Japan for today's "Love and Peace Led Zeppelin Charity Concert" at Hiroshima prefectural gymnasium. In this connection, this Charity Concert at Hiroshima has more priority than 2 concerts at Tokyo and 2 concerts at Osaka.
As this is a charity concert, they don't receive any guarantee! No guarantee at all! Please give them your big hands later on. Hiroshima municipal office will contribute all the revenues from your admission fees to victims of atomic air raid. We now Rock music has the spirit of Love and Peace and liberation." (quoted from "Led Zeppelin Tribute in Hiroshima" booklet)

And we met another friend called "kimiy" here. Three of us walked to Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome. (See (5) on the map) This Memorial Dome silently appeals the desire for peace, while this is the only facility, exhibiting the disastrous scenes at atomic air raid. It has been registered as a global legacy, i.e. the property conveying the history of human being's mistakes, and also became the symbolic presence for everlasting peace. This Memorial Dome has been registered as a global legacy related World War II, next to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Meanwhile, this building was originally called "Industry Promotion House of Hiroshima Prefecture".

Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome

The band members of Led Zeppelin visited this Memorial Dome, and went to the atomic bomb library located inside Peace Park (See (3) on the map).
We went through the side walk, watching the Memorial Dome, then entered Peace Park (see (3) on the map).
We found several monuments, such as Spring of Peace and Light of Peace, there. "Ceremony for Peace" is held on August 6 in this place every year. 50 - 60 thousands of people get together for this Ceremony from all over the world, wishing to eliminate nuclear weapons.
Jimmy Page took his picture at this place, lying on the grass. I also wanted to take my picture in the same manner as Jimmy, but I couldn't make it because of a trespass notice. Thus, I just took my picture on the verge of the grass.

 

At Peace Park

Then we entered the atomic bomb library, i.e. the facility exhibiting the material for damage by atomic air raid. This material vividly shows the damage right after the bombing. East building of the library shows the history of Hiroshima before/after atomic air raid. West building of the library shows several articles left by the victims, appealing that the result of atomic air raid was extremely devastating.
I heard that John Paul Jones couldn't find a word and Jimmy Page shed tears when they visited this library.
We (kimmy and myself) have visited this library before, while I understand that Jimmy Page was very much moved during his first visit to this library.

 

Atomic Bomb Library

 

As the evening event of the night before was going start soon, we had supper at Macdonald's nearby, then entered the event venue.
I met the prime event organizers, namely Mr. Taniguchi (the onwer of "Magical Zep World" WEB site) and Mr. Kobayashi (the owner of "Tangerin" WEB site, and the core band member of Equinox) .

With Mr. Taniguchi and Mr. Kobayashi

 

Finally, the evening event was started. Led Zeppelin tribute bands, IMMIGRANZ and 151A, performed on the stage, and there was a joint session with other players.

IMMIGRANZ 151A

The followings are the comments/reviews for both the evening event and main event, which the audience reported on BBS:

From kimiy:
I was so excited. If you are a Zeppelin fan, I feel as if you were my good old friend. Ha ha ha, thank you!

From Nobacchi:
I really enjoyed both the evening event and main event. I hope to see you one day.

From L, B:
Hiroshima is quite distant from my home town. It wasn't easy for me to go to Hiroshima, but I was much satisfied with the live performance at the evening event. I am thankful to IMMIGRANZ, 151A and all the people supporting the live performance.

From PEIJI:
Thank you very much for everything you did to me in Hiroshima. I appreciate the great performance by IMMIGRANZ at the evening event. I was impressed with the costume and speech. I was video-taping the performance, while the speech was really entertaining to me. I will be more than happy to participate in another event, if any. For those who didn't join this event, don't miss the next event at all. This event is unforgettable and indispensable to my life.

(Kodakara from 151A)
Thank you very much for your support in Hiroshima. I was quite happy during these 2 days. I apologize to you for our incomplete performance at the evening event, as one of our band members was heavily drunken.
We managed to make it at the main event, although there were some unexpected troubles, i.e. a guitar string was cut off and our combination was incomplete in some songs, while these troubles happened to Led Zeppelin, as well. I hope to have another event again!

(ROBERTOH from IMMIGRANZ)
Thank you very much for your support in Hiroshima. I cannot forget the incidents at these nights for the rest of my life. I discovered that I was capable enough to entertain the audience with my speech, regardless of the quality of performance. Let's get together in Hitoshima again.

(Aosuzu from 151A)
I was very happy to meet all of you. I could meet many Led Zeppelin fans, including Ms. Numata, who I wanted to meet in person from before, and these 2 days were really fruitful to me. It was fantastic, in deed. I cannot forget it for the rest of my life.
I also enjoyed the evening event on 7th from the depth of my mind. As I was a bit drunken, I am sorry for the drunken performance.

All the band members were rather tense on the main event, but we tried it very hard. I hope that you tolerate our performance this time, and I can see you again regardless of the quality of our performance. Also, please come to Kansai (Western part of Japan), if you have a chance.
Let's get together again!

 

I joined the after party, following the evening event, and it was pretty much enjoyable. The after party was held at the restaurant called "FUKUFUKU TEI", and we enjoyed Japanese local cuisine. We went to the place called "Smatora Tiger" for the 2nd after party, and the live session was started again.
Then, the after party continued to the 3rd and 4th, and the night grew late.

At the After Party

 

We kept drinking until the following morning. We went to Hiroshima municipal office (see (4) on the map) in the morning, although we were extremely sleepy. The building was reconstructed in 1985, after Led Zeppelin members visited there. The members met the mayor at his office, and contributed the revenue from the concert, i.e. 7 million yen, to the city. The mayor gave the members the Civil Charter, thanking for this contribution.
Robert Plant, representing Led Zeppelin, said to the mayor "We were born after the atomic air raid. We are not in a position to blame anybody, as it just happened in the past history and it was human being who did it. It is not our fault, but our "past" should be blamed. We would like to express our sincere apology about it. In this regard, we would like to help any victims who have been suffering from the bombing. Music can bring peace and joy to you. We, the musicians, will feel honorable if we can be of help to anybody."

Hiroshima Municipal Office

Led Zeppelin at Mayor's Office of Hiroshima Municipal Office

 

We went to Peace Park again. PEIJI visited the atomic bomb library again, to look into the material more carefully. I was just sitting on a bench at the Park, by way of killing time, until PEIJI came back.
We went for lunch to have OKONOMIYAKI (Japanese style Pizza), which is one of the special products in Hiroshima, after PEIJI came back.
They baked that Japanese Pizza in front of our table, and we were impressed with the cook's performance. It tasted real good, too. As a matter of fact, another friend called "Nobacchi", the owner of "Led Impulse" WEB site, was there, but we didn't recognize each other, as we were busy for eating.

At Japanese Pizza Restaurant

 

Kimiy joined us after lunch, then three of us went to South municipal culture center, which was the venue for the main event. We wanted to say "good bye" to Mr. Taniguchi, the prime organizer of the event.
At the main event, Ms. Ikumi Numata (the owner of "Led Zeppelin Collectors Only" WEB site) and Mr. Ysunori Naitoh (the manager of Fukuyama branch of used record shop "Groovin''", an eyewitness of Zeppelin's Hiroshima concert) did lectures, and Zeppelin tribute bands, "151A" and "Equinox", played on the stage.
When we arrived at the venue, Equinox was rehearsing. Mrs. Taniguchi invited us to enter the venue. I was very happy to see their rehearsal, because I was unable to join the main event itself.

At The Rehearsal

 

Then I reluctantly left the venue for Hiroshima station.
I am thankful to the prime organizers, Mr. Taniguchi and Mr. Kobayashi, and also all the other friends. I am also thankful for the lectures to Ms. Numata and Mr. Naitoh. 151A, Equinox, IMMIGRANZ, and session participants did good jobs, as well. I thank all the staff members for this fantastic event. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to kimiy and PEIJI for joining my trip to Hiroshima.

* For further details on the evening event and main event, please refer to the reports by Aosuzu, Nobacchi, IMMIGRANZ and PEIJI.

 

Newspaper Article on This Event


October 5, 2001 CHUUGOKU PAPER (Evening Paper)

Led Zeppelin tribute bands, "151A" from Western part of Japan and "Equinox" from Hiroshima, will play Zeppelin songs. The live version of "Dazed and Confused" will be completely recreated on the stage on this event.
Led Zeppelin represents 70's rock bands. They had the 1st "standing ovation" concert in Hiroshima, gathering approx. 5 thousand audience at former Hiroshima prefectural gymnasium.
An eyewitness of Led Zeppelin charity concert will be invited to this anniversary event in order to share his memory with the audience, showing slide pictures of Led Zeppelin relaxing at Peace Park.
Led Zeppelin contributed the revenue from the charity concert to Hiroshima city, approx. 7 million yen, for the victims. Jimmy Page, one of the world's three greatest guitarists, said "We didn't experience the war, but it was disgraceful that the human being dropped the atomic bomb."
This anniversary event was organized by Led Zeppelin related WEB site owners, Mr. Taniguchi and Mr. Kobayashi.

 

 

 

My personal opinion on the meaning of Led Zeppelin's Hiroshima concert

The terrorism at New York city was such a catastrophe. TV broadcasting of collapsed buildings was shocking enough.
Nevertheless, I feel that we haven't been well informed of the situations/histories in Palestine.
We cannot tolerate terrorism at all, as a genocide brings upon another genocide.

The current situation of Taliban faction in Afghanistan, which is being isolated, reminds of that of Japan right after Peal Harbor air raid at World War II. Had Pearl Harbor air raid been televised, it would have ignited the worldwide hatred.

After I looked into the studies related to atomic bomb, I started doubting if America really needed to drop atomic bombs twice, while Japan was losing the War. I have been doubting that it probably wasn't for warfare, but for experiment.
Many people believe that the atomic air raid was a right thing. They say that the atomic bomb accelerated the end of the War. It can be interpreted as "Japan was so dirty that it deserves being atomic-bombed." From my point of view, the Allied Powers understood that it was the victory of justice.

When I walked in Peace Park, I found a few monuments from foreign countries. Most of them are from the countries called "Eastern" in the cold war era. The only exception was Brazil where many Japanese immigrants lived.

I received a political message from these monuments, rather than a desire for Peace, and it was disappointing to me.
The Eastern countries might have used "bombing at Hiroshima/Nagasaki" for criticizing the Western countries. If that is true, it is quite a sorrow to me.

I am not writing this opinion to discuss the purpose of atomic bomb and postwar issues. I am desiring that not only my daughter but also other children in the world can live, without killing, being killed or being burned in a cruel bombing from the maternal point of view.

It seems to me that the band members of Led Zeppelin were raised under the sentiment of "the atomic air raid was a right thing" in the UK, belonging to the Allied Powers.
Nevertheless, Led Zeppelin came to Hiroshima to have a charity concert for victims, visited the atomic bomb library, and expressed their apology. I think that they were so serious that they did these contributions.
It is highly respectable and impressive that Led Zeppelin directly contributed the revenue from the concert to the victims, rather than constructing a fancy monument.

We can proudly declare that our beloved Led Zeppelin is one of the greatest rock bands in the world, handing down their story in Hiroshima to the next generation.

Scripted by U
October, 2001

 

TOSHI, THE MEMBER OF RUSTY LED, SPECIAL THANKS FOR YOUR NICE TRANSLATION.

 

TO TOP