Continue south-west on...well, the only road that follows the coastline, and you will find
the Apanon Japanese tomb jutting out of the grass and brush on your left-hand side. A
few minutes and many hair-pin curves and grand vistas later you will find one of the
only two Japanese guns left in its original site on the island...and, if the day is clear
enough, be able to look south and see Guam.
the Apanon Japanese tomb jutting out of the grass and brush on your left-hand side. A
few minutes and many hair-pin curves and grand vistas later you will find one of the
only two Japanese guns left in its original site on the island...and, if the day is clear
enough, be able to look south and see Guam.
The Apanon Japanese tomb.
The far left view is from the
behind the tomb looking
generally north-eastwards.
The three monuments have
different inscriptions.
The far left view is from the
behind the tomb looking
generally north-eastwards.
The three monuments have
different inscriptions.
Kept in a great state of preservation is this Japanese 14cm cannon. It is, quite literally, right off the side of the
road. Park either at the overlook beyond it or just before you reach it, but, either way, keep an eye out for cars.
There are very few, but they can come around the corner pretty quick. From inside the gun's casemate you can get
an interestingly framed view of Rota's southwestern tip with "Wedding Cake Mountain" (upper left). The gun's
barrel is ruptured (see small, bottom left photo), and the rupture pierces the top and bottom of the barrel. Did it fail
during a test? Did it fail while being fired at the pesky Americans who kept the island neutralized? Was it was
permanently silenced by the Americans when we finally came ashore upon the Japanese garrison's surrender at
war's end? Or--perhaps the Japanese themselves ruptured it to prevent it from being of use to the Americans?
road. Park either at the overlook beyond it or just before you reach it, but, either way, keep an eye out for cars.
There are very few, but they can come around the corner pretty quick. From inside the gun's casemate you can get
an interestingly framed view of Rota's southwestern tip with "Wedding Cake Mountain" (upper left). The gun's
barrel is ruptured (see small, bottom left photo), and the rupture pierces the top and bottom of the barrel. Did it fail
during a test? Did it fail while being fired at the pesky Americans who kept the island neutralized? Was it was
permanently silenced by the Americans when we finally came ashore upon the Japanese garrison's surrender at
war's end? Or--perhaps the Japanese themselves ruptured it to prevent it from being of use to the Americans?
Just west of the 14cm cannon is the empty casemate for a twin
that no longer stands. The circular concrete foundation is still
inside, but this casemate's gun is long, long gone.
that no longer stands. The circular concrete foundation is still
inside, but this casemate's gun is long, long gone.
| Once in Songsong, the largest village on island, you can see the remains of the Japanese-built pier in the East Harbor (below) and a shoreline pillbox on the West Harbor beach (right). . |
One of the ways the Japanese used to demonstrate to the
world that they were as capable of administering their
post-WWI mandates as were the great Euro-American
powers was by developing local industry. Rota was the site
of the Nanyo Kohatsu Kaisha sugar mill. Very little is left of
the mill, and its ruins stand next to Rota's present-day power
plant.
world that they were as capable of administering their
post-WWI mandates as were the great Euro-American
powers was by developing local industry. Rota was the site
of the Nanyo Kohatsu Kaisha sugar mill. Very little is left of
the mill, and its ruins stand next to Rota's present-day power
plant.
The ruins of the Nanyo
Kohatsu Kaisha sugar mill.
The masonry structure still
bears the scars of the periodic
American bombardments
during the latter part of World
War II (above).
Kohatsu Kaisha sugar mill.
The masonry structure still
bears the scars of the periodic
American bombardments
during the latter part of World
War II (above).
Rota keeps the ruins in relatively good shape. Brush is
kept cleared in the park and you really have to search to
find any graffiti. Next to the mill's ruins is one of two
narrow-guage sugar mill locomotives left on island. This
one has been placed on this site for display. The other,
located on the island's north-western corner, looks to
have been abandoned on its tracks.
kept cleared in the park and you really have to search to
find any graffiti. Next to the mill's ruins is one of two
narrow-guage sugar mill locomotives left on island. This
one has been placed on this site for display. The other,
located on the island's north-western corner, looks to
have been abandoned on its tracks.
This locomotive is maintained in a good
state of preservation. You can see it is
periodically painted. However, caution: if
you enter the cab to look out its forward
windows (left image), remember the floor is
60 years old and fragile. Don't fall through.
(Click the above pic and the right pic for a
larger image).
state of preservation. You can see it is
periodically painted. However, caution: if
you enter the cab to look out its forward
windows (left image), remember the floor is
60 years old and fragile. Don't fall through.
(Click the above pic and the right pic for a
larger image).
| At the north end of Songsong is the Tonga cave and tunnels. The tunnels (above) are part of a fortification system the Japanese began but never finished to oppose an invasion the American forces never conducted. The main cave opening (right) is at least fifty feet above the level of the tunnels, and is reached by a looooooong stone staircase. Today exists both a typhoon-ravaged Shinto shrine and a small Roman Catholic shrine. |
| The Ancient Chamoru Cave Museum, at Antigo Cave north of Songsong, primarily displays the prehistoric life of the Chamorro people. However, the museum has several WWII artifacts. |
A 25mm anti-aircraft gun (similar to the
one at the Rota airport) is on display. Next
to it is what appears to be a folding wingtip
from an A6M2 or A6M3 Zero fighter. (see
highlight). Special thanks to Mr. Chris
Lind for helping ID the wingtip.
one at the Rota airport) is on display. Next
to it is what appears to be a folding wingtip
from an A6M2 or A6M3 Zero fighter. (see
highlight). Special thanks to Mr. Chris
Lind for helping ID the wingtip.
A Japanese Army
machine gun keeps
watch over a replica
prehistoric Chamorro
canoe.
machine gun keeps
watch over a replica
prehistoric Chamorro
canoe.
| (Above) Shells, both Japanese and American, sit on quiet display now. (Right) A radial aircraft engine lies in the museum's front yard. |
