Led by Shionoyo-Guji and Kamada-Shinshoku, 40 other Japanese attended a memorial service on Airport Road where the Hachikyu Kai Monument was built in 1983.
According to the group’s coordinator, Yura Kazue, it is the mission of the 89 Group to Japanese soldiers who perished here during the war.
Kazue said their pilgrimage to Saipan is held every two years.
During yesterday’s memorial service, members of the Hokkaido-Gojinjyo-Daiko Hozonkai group perform a traditional dance wearing tree masks representing demons and departed spirits.
“This service is also to chase away bad spirits,” Kazue said.
The same ritual was performed by the group at the Sugar King Park in Chinatown yesterday.
While here, Kazue said they will also visit the Banzai and Suicide Cliffs, as well as the Last Command Post in Marpi.
From 1914 to 1944, the Northern Marianas was a Japanese possession.
On June 13, 1944, American forces shelled Saipan and landed troops on the island two days later.
During the ensuing battle, which ended on July 9, 1944, the American 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions and 27th Infantry Division, commanded by Lt. Gen. Holland Smith defeated the 43rd Division of the Imperial Japanese Army commanded by Lt. Gen. Yoshitsugu Saito.
Of the 71,000 U.S. soldiers who landed on Saipan, 2,949 were killed and 10,364 wounded.
22,000 Japanese civilians and almost the entire garrison of Japanese troops on island — at least 30,000 — died.
