Nagasaki Will Host Cultural Exposition

Nagasaki, the Japanese seaport that was nearly destroyed by an atomic bomb on Aug. 9, 1945, will celebrate its rich history with Nagasaki Journey Exposition 1990, a citywide event beginning Friday and continuing through Nov. 4.

The main expo site will be Matsugae, a wharf that serves as a major international port. Among attractions there will be the 446-foot Sky Tower, as well as a 6,360-square-foot model re-creation of Dejima Island, the only place in Japan where Europeans--first the Portuguese and then the Dutch--were allowed to live from the 1630s until 1856.

Another key expo area is Glover Garden, which is on the Minami Yamate hillside and has a fantastic view of the harbor below. It is named for legendary British trader Thomas Glover and contains several 19th-Century buildings furnished with artifacts of the day, plus special pavilions built by the Soviet Union, the Netherlands, France, England, the United States, Portugal and Spain, all nations with historic ties to the area.

A third main site is Koshi-byo, or Confucian shrine, founded and built by Chinese residents of Nagasaki in 1893. Adjacent to the shrine is the Chinese History Museum, which exhibits some of the holdings of Beijing’s Chinese National History Museum.

Symposia, exhibits and discussions centered on war and peace will take place, all free of charge, at the Heiwa Kaikan Hall Aug. 9-15, bridging anniversaries of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and the end of World War II.

Nagasaki is about 800 miles southwest of Tokyo, 8 1/2 hours by bullet train. It is one of Japan’s most navigable cities, with many signs in English that point the way to tourist attractions. For more information, contact the Japan National Tourist Organization, 624 S. Grand Ave., Suite 2640, Los Angeles 90017, (213) 623-1952.