Shinzo Hamai

Shinzo Hamai (浜井 信三) (1905-1968) was the first popularly elected Mayor of Hiroshima (served 1947-1955 and again 1959-1967). He created Hiroshima's image as a city of peace.The circumstances of his rise to prominence result from the fact that following the nuclear holocaust in Hiroshima, many municipal employees were killed or incapacitated, while Hamai was only slightly injured. His relief activities for reconstruction made him popular, thus leading to his election in 1947. In 1955 he was defeated by mayoral candidate Tadao Watanabe, who became the mayor until 1959. Then was reelected and served as mayor until 1967.

Bibliography

Robert Jungk, "Children of the Ashes"

External links

* Article on Hamai [http://spiritrestoration.org/Church/All%20About%20Church%20Articles/Michael%20Henderson/The_Comphor_Tree.htm]
* Article on city reconstruction in general that mentions Hamai's views on reconstruction [http://www.lhds.bcu.ac.uk/research/pdfs/WorkingPaper1.pdf]