コロナ禍以降、当会による現地慰霊は、正に4年8か月ぶりの訪問となり、慰霊と遺骨収容に協力してくださっている村落の皆さまと、劇的な再会を果たしました。

 

非常に限られた日程で、終日大雨に見舞われた日もありましたが、戦跡・慰霊碑各所では、当会総務委員長による読経供養、そして2ヶ村では友好親善式を執り行い、さらに広報委員長、ドローン操縦士、ガ島戦史担当により動画・画像撮影を実施、順延しておりました「ガダルカナル島戦80年クラウドファンディング」の目的を達成することができました。

 

ガダルカナル島の協力村落や在留邦人の皆さまには、長年の戦歿者慰霊と遺骨帰還事業へ多大なご協力に感謝申し上げ、また今回の訪問でもご尽力を賜わりましたこと、ここにご報告いたします。

 

ご覧の皆さまのご理解とご協力に改めて感謝申し上げます。

 

【 Returned from a memorial pilgrimage to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the Guadalcanal Island Battle 】

 

Four members of our association made a 4-night, 7-day “Guadalcanal Island Battle 82nd Anniversary Memorial Pilgrimage” from Saturday, August 3rd to Saturday, August 10th, and returned home safely today.

 

This was the first time in 4 years and 8 months that our association has visited the site to pay respects to the dead since the COVID-19 outbreak, and we had a dramatic reunion with the villagers who have been cooperating with the memorial and the recovery of the remains.

 

Although the schedule was very limited and there were days when it rained heavily all day, the Director General of our association who is a priest recited sutras at various battle sites and memorial monuments, and friendship ceremonies were held in two villages. In addition, the chairman of the public relations, the drone pilot, and the Guadalcanal war history specialist took videos and photos, and we were able to achieve the purpose of the “Guadalcanal Island Battle 80th Anniversary Crowdfunding” campaign, which had been postponed.

 

We would like to express our gratitude to the cooperating villages on Guadalcanal Island and the Japanese people living there for their tremendous cooperation over the years in the memorialization of war dead and the return of remains, and we would also like to report on the efforts you made during this visit.

 

Once again thank all of you viewing this site for your understanding and cooperation.