Yasu Shinyo Monument
Konan City, Kochi Prefecture
The Japanese Navy used shinyo explosive motorboats to attack American ships
in the Philippines and Okinawa. In preparation for the American invasion of the
Japanese mainland, shinyo squadrons were deployed along the coast. The shinyo
monument in the former town of Yasu, part of Konan City since 2006, honors the
men of the 128th Shinyo Squadron and other men at the base who died in an
accident one day after the war's end.
A sign at the monument site gives the history of the accident and the origin
of the monument:
This shinyo squadron, the Kure Naval Base 23rd Totsugeki Unit Tei
Detachment, had its headquarters at Susaki. The 160 squadron members led by
Navy Lieutenant Seisaku Takenaka awaited the decisive battle for the
mainland. They were stationed in Sumiyoshi and responsible for defense of
the homeland.
At about 6 p.m. on August 16, 1945, the day after the end of the war,
orders to sortie came from headquarters. While all squadron members went to
their posts and prepared to launch their motorboats, 111 brave men [1] under
Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Aono met their death instantly when explosives
on the special attack boats were accidentally set off. In order to always
remember their spirits, volunteers of Yasu Town formed a remembrance
association and erected this monument on August 16, 1956, through donations
from various sources.
After this, volunteers from the remembrance association and the 13th Ko
Class Kochi Prefecture Chapter maintained the monument and surrounding area.
In 1976, as a project of the Kochi Prefecture Marine Association, this sign
about the monument's origin, the outer fence, the flag pole, and the sign at
the entrance were put up, and the surroundings were arranged as now exist.
August 16, 1976
Kochi Prefecture Marine Association
The sign also lists the names and ranks of the 111 men who died.
A separate smaller stone monument at the site has the following poem:
This ground, this shore, ah, 128th Shinyo Squadron
Rumbling of the sea at Cape Tei, cries of our comrades from that time?
Pounding of the waves at Tosa Sumiyoshi, whispers of spirits who gave their
lives?
Ah, this ground, this shore, covered with blood of young men
Shinyo pilot statue erected in 1976
Note
1. Kimata (1998, 338) states that 111 base
workers, 23 shinyo crewmen, and 3 commanding officers lost their lives in the
explosions, and 23 shinyo motorboats were destroyed.
Source Cited
Kimata, Jiro. 1998. Nihon tokkoutei senshi (History of
Japan's special attack boats). Tokyo: Kojinsha.
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