Memorial Services in Saipan, Northern Marianas

On the small island of Saipan (about the size of San Francisco) we participated in various services for WWII dead. In a battle which lasted less than a month, 29,000 Japanese soldiers died (out of 31,000 total), 3500 Americans (out of 71,000), and 22,000 civilians, mostly Japanese suicides but also native Chamorros caught in  the crossfire. Here shown are 300 lanterns we assembled, placed candles inside, and set adrift in the ocean at sunset. Written on the lanterns are the mantras NAMU MYOHO RENGE KYO  and NAMU AMIDA BUTSU.

On the small island of Saipan, which is about the same size as the City of San Francisco, we participated in various services for the WWII dead. In a battle that lasted less than a month, 29,000 Japanese soldiers died (out of 31,000 total), 3500 Americans (out of 71,000 total), and 22,000 civilians, mostly Japanese suicides, but also Chamorro natives caught in the crossfire.
Here shown are 300 lanterns which we made, placed candles inside, and set them to drift in the ocean at sunset. Written on the lanterns are the mantras NAMU MYOHO RENGE KYO and NAMU AMIDA BUTSU.