Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission Permanent Laboratory-Clinic

According to Japanese custom the ground must be purified prior to construction. These photographs are of the Shinto religious ceremony that is part of every formal ground-breaking. This ceremony was necessary before the Japanese workman would undertake the project. All of the photographs were taking at Hijiyama Park, Hiroshima, Japan on July 19th, 1949.

The Shinto priest praying at the outdoor altar.

The audience watching the traditional Shinto rites. Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission staff members, the president of the Hiroshima City Council, prefectural health officals and other dignitaries were in attendance.

Lt. Col. Carl F. Tessmer is standing with the Shinto priests. He has just turned the first shovel of dirt.