Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Somers Steelman | 161206-N-AV234-517 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 6, 2016) Bishop Ryokan Ara of the Tendai Mission...... read more read more
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On a warm June evening in 1945, in the skies over Shizuoka, Japan, two U.S. Army Air Force B-29s from 314th Bomb Wing collided during a planned bombing raid, killing all 23 American crewmen on board.
Down below, more than 2,000 Shizuoka citizens also perished in the raid. The horror of war had reared its head once again. According to historical
accounts, the flames of the wreckage served to illuminate this blackest of nights.
From this tragedy emerged the tradition of the Blackened Canteen, an artifact recovered from the wreckage site the next morning by Mr. Fukumatsu Itoh. Itoh was a Shizuoka citizen who survived the raid. Dr. Hiroya Sugano, a child at the time of the raid, was also out that day observing the wreckage site with his family. The sense of grief was practically tangible, Sugano recalled.
The canteen, scarred and bruised, though still intact, bore the handprint of what Itoh imagined was the canteen’s owner. As per his devotion to Buddhism, Itoh coordinated a proper burial for the American crewman alongside Shizuoka residents who also lost their lives that day. This began a tradition of honor that echoes to this day via the annual Blackened Canteen ceremony, held around the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks.
Initially, every year, Itoh would visit the B-29 crash site to honor both the American crewman and the citizens of Shizouka with the pouring of bourbon whiskey from the canteen onto the ground. According to Itoh, this honored the spirits of the fallen. Over time he weathered criticism and outright scorn for his actions from his countrymen, but Itoh would not be deterred from his yearly homage to the fallen. To Itoh, this was part of the forgiveness and healing process.
In time, Sugano would take over this tradition from Itoh. In 1991, he started a yearly journey to Pearl Harbor, to visit the USS Arizona Memorial and expanded upon Itoh’s tradition by pouring whiskey from the canteen into the waters surrounding the memorial.
Together, the tradition set forth by Itoh and Sugano helped parallel the long, peaceful relationship between the U.S. and Japan that continues to this day.
In 2016, for the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, the 6th annual Blackened Canteen ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial saw the tradition’s most impressive turnout yet. Itoh’s dream of peace and reconciliation, in that moment of darkness, was realized in full as the sun rose over the waters of Pearl Harbor.
“War is tragic, and it brings out the worst in us,” said Jacqueline Ashwell, superintendent of the National Park Service’s World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument and guest speaker at the event. “Yet out of war, glimmers of hope can be found amidst the destruction and despair, and great acts of courage can be known. We are here to honor those who died on that fateful day in 1945, but also everyone who died during World War II. It’s through this ceremony that we can extend peace and hope into the future.”
Following a hymnal from Dartmouth College Choir, Ken DeHoff, the executive director of the Pacific Aviation Museum in Pearl Harbor, spoke of the Blackened Canteen ceremony’s significance as proof of how far the United States and Japan have come since World War II.
“You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful morning to stand on this memorial and share this incredible story between two nations who were once at war, but now stand united by peace,” said DeHoff. “This event with its historic tradition represents the unity our countries have shown moving forward. Now, during the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, unity, and peacefulness are more important than ever. This canteen tradition not only honors our respective countries’ fallen but also celebrates the strength of our relationship today.”
Sugano, wearing a traditional Hawaiian lei, spoke with a hushed reverence, humbled by the turnout and expressed his appreciation to the attendees.
“I cannot begin to express my gratitude for all of you waking up early to join us here today,” said Sugano. “It was Mr. Itoh’s wish to see the people of Japan and the United States together as one, honoring his message of peace. Today, I can see that here before me.”
Sugano’s remarks punctuated over seven decades of ongoing peace and prosperity that has been a cornerstone of the U.S. – Japan alliance.
After the remarks, Sugano, Ashwell and Dehoff led two groups of dignitaries to the open well of the memorial and each poured ceremonial whiskey from the canteen into the waters of the USS Arizona wreckage site, which sparkled in the morning sun.
“This ceremony and the very literal outpouring of respect proves that goodwill truly has no boundaries,” said Chaplain Robert Lawrence, of Fall River, Massachusetts, who gave the benediction. “The blackened canteen, with all of its scars, survived because a memory was needed in order for us to remember, and to understand the need for the ongoing friendship and reconciliation between our two countries.”
Once the whiskey had been ceremonially dispersed, the attendees lined up to toss traditional plumeria blossoms into the well. Within a moment, the waters were blanketed in flora, a final offering to the spirits of the fallen.
From below waters the crew members of the USS Arizona were honored with the sight of hundreds of blossoms fluttering down into the water. as U.S. and Japanese survivors of war stood together, united today by peace, friendship, and forgiveness.
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2016 18:48 |
| Story ID: | 216641 |
| Location: | PEARL HARBOR, HI, US |
| Hometown: | FALL RIVER, MA, US |
| Web Views: | 208 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Peace and Reconciliation Emphasized at Annual Blackened Canteen Ceremony, by PO1 Jeffrey Troutman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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