A Rainy But Not Forgotten Experience at Wonder Walk Hiroshima
Few weeks ago, I had the luck to be a volunteer for Wonder Walk Hiroshima, an exciting walking experience that brought people together for a day of exploration, food, and fun. There were five different walking courses, each one of a different length, that individuals could choose a course that suited them best. I did the Friendly Course, and it was 26 kilometres hard but good experience.
天気は味方してくれず、小雨が降り続き、空も曇っていましたが、参加者のエネルギーは決して衰えませんでした。すべての参加者が旅を始めることを心待ちにしており、その熱意こそが必要なエネルギーでした！
Getting Started on the Walk – The Rain Couldn’t Stop Us
The day of the walk began misty, and before long the rain started to fall. Most would have likely stayed indoors on a day like that, but certainly not the Wonder Walk Hiroshima attendees! People arrived at the starting point full of zest, wearing raincoats and umbrellas. Some even arrived accompanied by their dogs, making the atmosphere even livelier. Seeing the smiling faces of people and dogs made me even more excited to be a part of this activity.
嬉しそうに尻尾を振りながら、飼い主と一緒に歩く犬たちの姿はとても心温まるものでした。ペットたちも人間と同じくらいイベントを楽しんでいるようで、そのおかげで雰囲気がさらに活気に満ちたものになりました。
Participants in full gear despite the weather
Participants with their pets
Food Stalls – A Tasty Motivation
One of the best parts of the walk was probably the food stalls along the way. There was a break point every 5 kilometres where the walkers could stop, eat a meal, and recharge. Each walker, including volunteers like me, received a 1,000-yen coupon to use at any of the food stalls. I had my eye on enjoying a hotdog and a drink, but much to my surprise they sold out by the time I reached the stall! Despite feeling a bit disappointed, it also went a long way towards demonstrating how great a time everybody was having with the food as well as with the overall experience.
これらの食事休憩は、単に食べるための時間ではなく、人々が座っておしゃべりをしたり、笑ったり、思い出を共有したりする貴重な時間でした。休憩を取る人もいれば、素早く食べてすぐに歩き続ける人もいました。また、この機会を利用して、お互いに励まし合ったり、新しい友達を作ったりする人も多く、歩くだけでなく、交流を深める大切な時間となりました。
Participants enjoying their meal at the food stalls
Walking Through History
One of the things that I enjoyed most about the Wonder Walk exercise was being able to walk around different parts of Hiroshima, like historical areas. While walking, I happened to come across the Hiroshima Army Clothing Depot, a cluster of buildings which withstood the atomic bombing back in 1945. They remind one of what used to be for Hiroshima, and coming across them in person led me to take a moment and reflect on Hiroshima’s history. It was a poignant experience, reminding one how much one should learn from history but then aim for the future.
天気が景色に独特の雰囲気を加え、霧が古い建物を包み込み、厳かで歴史を感じさせる光景を作り出していました。この街がどれほどの苦難を乗り越えてきたのかを改めて考えさせられ、その過去を忘れずに記憶し続けることの大切さを実感しました。
Photo of A-bombed buildings
Description of the building
Another jewel of the day was the Hiroshima Port Cruise. The atmosphere was beautiful despite the rain and fog. There were boats mooring along the beach, and the calm water added a serene aspect to the lengthy walk. It was the perfect time to take deep breaths and admire the scene before continuing.
Hiroshima port cruise
The Final Stretch – A Reward for Everyone
After walking for several hours, the finish line finally came into sight, I crossed the finishing line. It was a victory but at the same time pride because I had walked 26 kilometres in the rain. In crossing the finishing line while walking, a gift was given to all of us by the organizers. The queue was long, but no one minded.
皆が喜びに満ち、笑顔を浮かべながら、周りの人とおしゃべりを楽しんでいました。お気に入りの瞬間を共有したり、「もう疲れた！」と冗談を言い合ったりする姿があちこちで見られました。速く歩いた人も、ゆっくり歩いた人も関係なく、最後まで歩き切ったことが何よりも大切で、それがみんなの達成感につながっていました。
Participants crossing the finish line with large smiles on their faces
The After-Party – A Celebration For Everyone
As soon as I was convinced that the event was over, the hosts had a final trick up their sleeves, a pleasant after-party! The party featured music, delicacies, and laughter, with all the room to relax and bask in glory. Whatever your role in the event, as a participant or volunteer, everybody got to party together. Seeing people dancing, taking photographs, listening to stories, seeing strangers becoming friends, this made me understand how festivals like these make communities come together.
雨はイベントを台無しにするどころか、むしろ特別なものにしてくれました。それは、参加者たちの強い意志と情熱をはっきりと感じさせるものでした。
A participant performing
The atmosphere at the after party
Despite being exhausted by the end of the day, I would leap at the opportunity to do it all over again. The environment, backdrop, and feeling of being able to walk Hiroshima’s streets, legacy, and attractions made everything so worthwhile. Wonder Walk Hiroshima memories of mine recall that yes, one does need to be a part of something bigger than oneself, at one with the people, at one with nature, and enjoy oneself, rain or shine.
26 kilometres conquered!
ワンダーウォーク広島でウォーキングやボランティア活動に参加できる機会があれば、ぜひ参加してみてください！これは単なるウォーキングイベントではなく、冒険であり、人々とつながる機会であり、一生の思い出を作るチャンスです。
Written by Eze Ifeanyi Michael, a second-grade student of Eikei University of Hiroshima