Monkey Bridge (bombed bridge)

In the Hiroshima region, the word "Enkou" refers to an amphibious kappa-like imaginary creature. Enkou Bridge, which spans the Enko River, was an important bridge on the Saigoku Kaido road since the feudal period. In 1926 (Taisho 15), it was rebuilt as a permanent bridge by Hiroshima Prefecture, and was the most ornate bridge at the time, with an eagle soaring above a globe on the main pillars and monkey reliefs on the railings. However, as the war intensified, these decorations were donated and replaced with stone railings and main pillars. The bridge was hit by the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945 (Showa 20), 1.82 kilometers from the hypocenter. It withstood the blast and fire, and served as an evacuation route.