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Kaiten Memorial Kannon
Shūnan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

The island of Ōtsushima in Tokuyama Bay of Yamaguchi Prefecture was the site of the first kaiten base, which the Japanese Navy opened in September 1944 for kaiten weapon production and testing. A kaiten was a manned torpedo to be launched from a submarine in order to carry out a special (suicide) attack on an enemy ship either at anchorage or on the sea. When visitors get off the ferry at Ōtsushima dock to visit the Kaiten Memorial Museum, the first thing that they see is the Kaiten Memorial Kannon (Buddhist goddess of mercy) that was erected in 2008 by Rumi Aoyama. However, the monument area does not give have any information on the reasons for its erection.

The wall at the back of the monument area has the lyrics to two songs. The lyrics of the song entitled "Peace kannon will lead" were written by Rumi Aoyama, and the music was composed by Yūji Matsuoka.

Peace kannon will lead

1

Come now, all to Ōtsushima
Green island spiritually rich
Filled in heart with hospitality
Protected by kannon
Praying for world peace
Come now, everyone, let's sing
Peace kannon will lead

Come now, all clap hands to beat
Come now, come to Ōtsushima

2

Come now, all to Ōtsushima
Gently embraced by spirits
Looking at sea remembering kaiten
Kannon smiling
Praying for world peace
Come now, everyone, let's sing
Peace kannon will lead

3

Come now, all to Ōtsushima
Remembering kaiten human torpedo
Never to happen again
Kannon addressing us
Praying for world peace
Come now, everyone, let's dance
Peace kannon will lead

Come now, all clap hands to beat
Come now, come to Ōtsushima

4

Come now, all to Ōtsushima
Without saying, come once more
Blessed with rich Seto Inland Sea
Protected by kannon
Praying for world peace
Come now, everyone, let's dance
Peace kannon will lead

The lyrics of the song entitled "Kaiten mother: Human torpedo" were written by Fumiko Utagawa, and the music was composed by Akio Miyoshi. In addition to the lyrics of this song on the wall at the back of the monument area, there is a separate monument erected in 2007 (now to right of Kaiten Memorial Kannon) that also has the lyrics engraved.


Kaiten Memorial Kannon
on Ōtsushima