On the 7th, 80 years after the battle of Guadalcanal Island in the South Pacific, where more than 20,000 people died in the Pacific War, a memorial service hosted by the Japanese government was held locally.

On Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, in August 1942, during the Pacific War, a fierce battle began between the former Japanese army and allied forces such as the United States, resulting in more than 20,000 casualties in about half a year. became.

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of this battle, on the 7th, about 200 people from the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military, as well as government officials from Japan and the Solomon Islands, attended a memorial ceremony sponsored by the Japanese government. Done.

In it, State Minister of Defense Oniki said, "Many precious lives were lost in the most ferocious battle. We must make unremitting efforts to realize a world in which people can live in peace and affluent lives, so that the ravages of war will never be repeated. I promise to keep going," he said.



Afterwards, attendees laid wreaths made of flowers to monuments erected to commemorate the war dead.

A Japanese man in his 50s living on Guadalcanal said, "It made me feel solemn. I have renewed my determination that we should never repeat war and that we should pursue peace in the future." rice field.



A group made up of bereaved families and former Japanese military personnel was considering attending this memorial service, but it was postponed due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection.

Battle of Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal is the largest island in the Solomon Islands, about 5,500 kilometers south of Japan, and is on the line connecting the United States and Australia.



In the Pacific War that broke out in December 1941, the former Japanese army set up an airfield as a strategic point to hinder cooperation between the two countries. will be occupied.



In order to recapture it, the former Japanese army sent troops many times, but they were repulsed each time, and the number of casualties increased.



Since there was almost no food supply, there was no end to the number of people dying from starvation or being infected with malaria. went up to



The Battle of Guadalcanal was the first battle in the Pacific War in which the former Japanese army suffered a crushing defeat in land combat, and is regarded as one of the turning points for Japan to lose the war.



On the other hand, many American soldiers died, and many countries have held memorial ceremonies on Guadalcanal Island.