Kaiten Memorial Museum

Overview

The Kaiten Memorial Museum, located in Ooshima, Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a facility that chronicles the development, training, and deployment of the 'Kaiten,' a human torpedo used as a special attack weapon during the final stages of the Pacific War. Inside, you'll find a full-scale Kaiten model and precious historical materials that offer a poignant lesson on the horrors of war and the importance of peace. The Kaiten was developed as a last resort as Japan's defeat became increasingly certain. Riding a Kaiten was a suicide mission, a desperate act with no hope of survival. The museum's exhibits powerfully convey the harsh realities of war. The Kaiten Memorial Museum displays materials detailing the development process, training, and records of the Kaiten pilots who engaged in actual combat. It also features exhibits related to the Kaiten training base ruins and Ooshima Island itself. The training base ruins remain largely intact, offering visitors a glimpse into the place where the Kaiten were trained. Ooshima Island, the site of the training base, boasts numerous historical sites related to the Kaiten. The Kaiten Memorial Museum plays a crucial role in not only conveying the horrors of war but also in transmitting the preciousness of peace to future generations. To ensure that the suffering of war is never forgotten and to impart the value of peace to future generations, we encourage you to visit the Kaiten Memorial Museum.