Burned Torii Gate of a Shinto Shrine in Nagasaki After the Atomic Bombing, 1945

January 9, 2026 - Reading time: 3 minutes

A scorched torii gate in Nagasaki, photographed in August 1945, standing as the sole remnant of a Shinto shrine destroyed by the atomic bombing.

This photograph shows a scorched torii gate standing alone in Nagasaki in August 1945. It is all that remained of a Shinto shrine destroyed during the atomic bombing of the city. Captured shortly after the attack, the image documents the physical aftermath of the blast at street level, focusing on a single surviving structure rather than widespread urban ruins.

The Destroyed Shinto Shrine:

According to available information, the burned torii gate seen in the photograph is the sole remnant of one of Nagasaki’s Shinto shrines. The rest of the shrine complex was completely destroyed by the atomic strike, leaving only this charred arch as evidence of the site’s former existence.

The heavy scorching visible on the surface of the gate indicates exposure to intense heat generated during the explosion.

What the Photograph Shows:

This image documents:

• A burned torii gate standing without surrounding structures

• The complete destruction of the associated shrine

• Visible thermal damage on the remaining architectural element

Rather than depicting people or military targets, the photograph records the silent aftermath of the bombing through the remains of a religious structure.

Historical Value of the Image:

Photographs of isolated surviving elements like this torii gate provide important visual evidence of the scale and nature of destruction in Nagasaki. They show how entire sites could vanish, leaving behind only fragments that mark where buildings and places of worship once stood.

Such images are valuable for historians studying the physical impact of the atomic bombing on urban and cultural landscapes.

Photo Information:

📝 Source: wartime photograph
📷 Author: R.J. Battersby
📍 Location: Nagasaki, Japan
📅 Date: August 1945

The burned torii gate photographed in Nagasaki stands as the last visible trace of a Shinto shrine destroyed in August 1945. Reduced to a single scorched structure, it serves as a factual visual record of what remained after the atomic bombing of the city.