Ishadō Monument
Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Captain Yōkyū Ishadō, a native of Ishigaki Island, led the Army's first
special (suicide) attack against Allied ships from Shiraho Airfield on the
northern coast of the island. He and his other three squadron members flew Army
Type 99 Assault Planes (Allied code name of Sonia) toward the enemy fleet at
Kerama Rettō. Ishadō, an Army Academy graduate, died at the age of 24 years and
was promoted two ranks to Lieutenant Colonel after his death by special attack.
In 2013, a monument was erected at the former site of Shiraho Airfield to
remember the deaths of Yōkyū Ishadō and the other 30 Special Attack Corps
members who took off from Shiraho toward Okinawa and Kerama Rettō. The front of
the monument has a photograph of Ishadō with the following inscription:
Imperial Japanese Army
8th Hikō Shidan (Flying Division) Makoto 17th Hikōtai (Flying
Squadron)
Monument to Lieutenant Colonel Yōkyū Ishadō and
Other Corps Members
The back side of the monument facing the sea has the following history and a
last poem written by Yōkyū Ishadō to his parents and family on March 23, 1945:
Our country, 68 years after the end of the Greater East Asia War, has
overcome its postwar devastation and established a plentiful life in peace.
We must pass on to future generations historical truth and keep in mind
that Japan's current peace and prosperity were brought about based on the
foundation of heroes who gave their lives during the critical point of our
country's existence and many persons who were victims of the war. In the
latter part of the Greater East Asia War when plans for a breakthrough in
the war situation had to be made, the Imperial Japanese Army formed the
Special Attack Corps. Young men, with sacrifice of their lives, undertook
their duty to protect their country, took off from the Special Attack Corps
base on Ishigaki Island, and died nobly in battle in the deep sea.
At 4 a.m. on March 26, 1945, four Ishadō Squadron planes and six escort
planes led by Captain Yōkyū Ishadō, a native of Ishigaki Island who was a
squadron leader of the Imperial Japanese Army's Makoto 17th Hikōtai (Flying
Unit) of the 8th Hikō Shidan (Flying Division), took the lead for the Army's
Special Attack Corps when they took off from the base at Shiraho on Ishigaki
Island. They carried out special attacks on enemy aircraft carriers to the
west of Kerama Rettō, and their battle results were highly publicized
throughout the country.
We pass on to future generations the distinguished service of Lieutenant
Colonel Yōkyū Ishadō (after special attack received special promotion of two
ranks) and his squadron members, who died in battle with love for their
hometowns and country and with a spirit of dedication for an eternal noble
cause. We erect here this monument to remember Lieutenant Colonel Yōkyū
Ishadō and other squadron members so that their noble spirit to protect
their hometowns and country will be taught in future times and to express our
aspiration for everlasting peace.
August 15, 2013
Last Poem of Lieutenant Colonel Yōkyū Ishadō
A fine and long-awaited chance has come
Happily I lay down my life in the deep sea
Captain Yōkyū Ishadō, who took off
in a special attack from Ishigaki
Island on March 26, 1945
(photo on right side of monument face)
The back of the monument also has a list of Special Attack Corps members who
flew from Shiraho Airbase and never returned. The list has the name, rank after
death, age, and home prefecture for each airman. The ages of the men who died
ranged from 17 years (two men) to 29 years.
8 men - Makoto 17th Hikōtai
6 men - Dokuritsu 23rd Hikō Chūtai
7 men - 17th Hikō Sentai
7 men - 105th Hikō Sentai
3 men - 19th Hikō Sentai
The 19th Hikō Sentai, whose members usually flew directly from Taiwan toward
Okinawa to make special attacks against the enemy fleet, has the
19th Hikō
Sentai Special Attack Monument at Mabuni Hill on Okinawa. |
