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
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