the first cathedral in Japan in the Urakami area. The construction of the cathedral was fully completed in 1925. On August 9, 1945, near the end of World War II, Urakami became the site for ground zero when the atomic bomb exploded at about a height of . The damage caused by the heat rays and the blast was almost entirely restricted to this area, while the Nakashima area was fairly well shielded by the hills. However, 36% of the total structures in both areas were damaged. The Urakami Cathedral was also heavily damaged during the blast. Following the war, Urakami was rebuilt and now houses the once-damaged Cathedral site. See also References External links (ground zero) Nuclear warfare Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Geography of Nagasaki Prefecture Christianity in Japan