Fallen Japanese honoured
24 August 2007
On Monday, August 6, in two ceremonies of great symbolic importance, Australian and Japanese representatives honoured the dead of the 1942 midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour.
The ceremonies coincided with a visit to Sydney of a training squadron of three ships from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force, JDS Kashima, JDS Shimayuki and JDS Sawagiri.
The first ceremony was held at HMAS Kuttabul near the spot where 19 RAN and two RN sailors were killed when the original Kuttabul was sunk.
At the poignant ceremony an honour guard of 150 members of the Japanese Training Squadron sang Umi Yukaba, the anthem of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
A survivor from the Kuttabul, Neil Roberts, met and shook hands with Japanese descendants of Sub Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban and Petty Officer Mamoru Ashibe, the crew members of the midget sub M24.
This sub fired the fatal torpedo and was the only one of the three subs to escape Sydney Harbour.
Its final resting place was a mystery until its wreckage was discovered late last year off Sydney's northern beaches.
It was at that location on the HMAS Melbourne that the second ceremony was held.
The remains of the two submariners are believed to be still in the wreckage and descendants paid their respects, which included pouring sake and tossing floral wreaths into the sea.
In turn they were presented by the Minister Assisting the Defence Minister, Bruce Billson, with urns containing sand taken from around the sub.
Japanese relatives included the niece of PO Ashibe, Hiromi Takemoto and the younger brother of SBLT Ban, Kazutomo Ban.
He said the discovery of the wreck had been very important to the relatives, as it brought resolution to the mystery.
Navy chaplain Stuart Hall said prayers for the two dead men. A RAN sailor played the Last Post and a guard gave a salute.
Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Mr Bruce Billson, Chief of Navy VADM Russ Shalders AO, CSC, RAN and Commander Australian Fleet RADM Nigel Coates were among the Australian representatives.
Japanese representatives included the Ambassador to Australia Hideaki Ueda and the Japanese Defence Attache Captain Kazushige Nagai.
VADM Shalders said the ceremonies were part of a tradition which began at the time, of treating the submariners with respect.
Soon after the 1942 attack the bodies from the two other subs were cremated with full naval honours.
RADM Coates said the ceremonies provided a "once in a lifetime opportunity for Australia and Japan to jointly recognise the efforts of dedicated seafarers doing their duty for their country.
Which was exactly what they were doing in 1942, it just so happens that the Japanese were on the other side."
The remains of the two Japanese submariners will not be disturbed. M24 will be their tomb.
"The circle is now complete," VADM Shalders said.
