Kashiwajima Special Attack Shinyo Base Monument
Otsuki Town, Kochi Prefecture
The 134th Shinyo Special Attack Squadron arrived at the
small island of Kashiwajima at the southern tip of Kochi Prefecture on June 26,
1945. Near the end of World War II, shinyo explosive motorboats to be used in suicide attacks were deployed
at many places along the coast of the main Japanese islands in preparation for
an expected enemy invasion.
This monument to remember the 134th Shinyo Special Attack
Squadron was erected in October 1988 through contributions from former squadron
members and residents of the island. The monument inscription reads:
In June 1945, near the end of the Pacific War, preparations
were made for the final battle for the mainland. There were 48 members of the
Special Attack Shinyo Corps who were stationed here. They kept 24 shinyo
motorboats in six horizontal tunnels at the bottom of this hill, and they
waited for an opportunity to attack. Words cannot express the pure hearts of
the young men in the squadron who made a commitment to die for their country as
they faced a time of emergency and the compassion of the islanders who kindly
looked after them. The prosperity of today's Japan that recovered from the
terrible devastation from 43 years ago is in large part due to the strength of
the young men from that time who survived. Filled with boundless thanks for the
spirits of the many men who died in special attacks everywhere, we erect this
monument here as one light praying for the repose of their souls and hoping for
eternal world peace.
The commander of the 134th Shinyo Special Attack Squadron
composed the following song, which is engraved on the back of the monument:
Kashiwajima Shinyo Squadron Song
By Tatsuya Nakatani
Forty-eight men in a sure-death squadron
Of two-seat shinyo motorboats
Handsome and dashing
In boarding uniforms with white silk on the collars
Nights of waiting to sortie wear on
In brief dreams, Father, Mother,
Forgive me for dying before you
Our lives, we go for our country
Sorrow of the tracks of our tears
Marks in Nankoku's summer shore
Where the Kuroshio Current draws near
Memories of our youthful vows
Kashiwajima as seen from road leading to island.
Monument stands near the bridge
from Kashiwajima to the mainland.
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