Former the head office of Hiroshima Joint Savings Bank (former location :Fukuyama City)
Hiroshima Joint Savings Bank was established in 1922 through a joint venture between banks in Hiroshima Prefecture.
This building was constructed in 1937 as the bank's head office. It was designed by Toyoda Benji, an architect from Kure City.
In April 1945, the Geibi Bank was established through a merger, and this building became the Geibi Bank Shimo-Yanagi Branch. However, in June of the same year, the branch was closed due to branch consolidation. The building was then leased to the Hiroshima East Police Station.
On August 6, the atomic bomb was dropped. The building was located 1.2 km from the hypocenter. A fire broke out, but it was extinguished before the building was completely destroyed. Evacuees gathered at the building, which served as a first-aid station for the injured.
In 1950, the building was returned to Hiroshima Bank and used as the Shimo-Yanagi Branch. However, it was demolished in 1988 for reconstruction. The entrance area remains as a monument.
