South Pacific Memorial Park, Hagatna

Guam is now a bustling resort and military base, but this is a memorial site for the Pacific War war dead that stands quietly on the island. In August 1944, near at the end of the Pacific War, one of my great-granduncles took his own life here. I visited the site several times on the anniversary of his death to offer flowers, carrying a memento between sister and brother that my great-grandmother had entrusted to me before her death. Although opinions differ as to whether or not Gyokusai served as a bulwark in the defense of the Japanese mainland, the fact remains that Japan's current peace and prosperity are based on the precious sacrifices made by Japanese and U.S.soldiers on Saipan and Guam. We must also remember above all the local islanders who were killed in the fierce fighting between the two armies here.

The white monument and graves for Japanese soldiers who died in a war. Buddha and gifts such as folded origami were displayed.