A tale of a WWII civilian survivor

Of the multi-hued fabric of tales that make up the history of the Battles of Saipan and Tinian, one of the memories that vividly stand out among the survivors of that horrific war were the mass suicides on Saipan.

Told that they would be tortured by the invading American forces if they allow themselves to be captured, scores of Japanese families jumped to their deaths at the bottom of what has become known as the Suicide Cliff. Witnesses told of parents throwing their children over the cliff, and then jumping in after them, like so much lemmings in an orgy of self-destruction.

For the American soldiers who witnessed it, they were dumbfounded and felt helpless to stop it. For Koyu Shiroma, however, it was an experience that remains as stark in his mind as if it was only yesterday and not 40 years ago. That’s because Shiroma was one of those who leapt off Suicide Cliff. He leapt, and survived to tell the tale.

It’s been over 40 years since he last saw the place of his birth, but for the past two days, 67-year-old Shiroma has been on Saipan, getting in touch with the land that plays a big part in his family’s history.

Shiroma, now the president of Koyu Business Consulting Inc., said he still remembers events from his childhood on Saipan, especially World War II, which, according to him, still has a strong hold on his life today.

Born on May 7, 1937, Shiroma was raised on a sugar cane plantation plot operated by his father, who migrated to Saipan between late 1920s and early 1930s.

In an interview Monday at the peak of Mount Tapochao, Shiroma, the first-born child in his family, recalled the events that led to that unforgettable experience at Suicide Cliff.

“In 1945, the war came,” he said. “I did not know what it meant. I just followed my family and we went to a cave and hid inside. We weren’t the only ones. There were other families hiding in the cave.”

Shiroma said he did not find the stay inside the cave much to his liking. “I didn’t like it. We couldn’t do anything. A lot of bombs were coming from air and sea…all the people were dying.”

As days went by, Shiroma remembered his family—his father, mother, and two younger sisters—marching with a group of other people to Suicide Cliff in Marpi.

“We eventually followed people to Suicide Cliff. On the way, my mother, Yasu Shiroma, died from the bombs…the mountain was burning. I never forgot my mother’s words: ‘Wherever you go, you go with them [people].’ So I continued to follow everyone to the cliff.”

Along the way, Shiroma got separated from his father and two sisters. “There were too much bombings, and we got separated.”

As the group made its way to the cliff, Shiroma said he saw several dying Japanese soldiers along the way. “They were dying. They would ask for help, but I couldn’t stop to help so I jumped around them to keep up with the people walking.”

When Shiroma and the group of Japanese people he was with finally reached the cliff, people began leaping off the edge. Shiroma said that, without fully understanding what was going on, he just did what the others were doing and also jumped off the cliff.

In a twist of fate, however, and being only around seven years old at that time, his leap off the edge of the cliff was not too far off into space, so as he was halfway down, a protruding branch or root from a tree caught the back of his shirt, leaving him suspended in air.

“I actually jumped there, but somehow, a branch caught my shirt and I didn’t go all the way down,” he said. “The American soldiers, with a search light, spotted me, picked me up, and took me to Camp Susupe. I still wasn’t sure of my father and sisters’ whereabouts…if they jumped or if they’re alive.”

Treated as an orphan at the camp, Shiroma said he met a Japanese woman who wanted to take him with her to Japan. At the end of the war, though, cousins and relatives arrived and took him on a ship to Okinawa.

While in Okinawa, Shiroma, against the will of family members, expressed his desire to travel and see the world. He was sponsored by an American commander, who helped him get the necessary travel documents.

“My relatives, they did not want me to go. ‘Your father and mother were killed by Americans, so why go to America,’ I was told. But I wanted to know everything about America and to see the whole world.”

Upon arriving at the U.S. mainland, Shiroma had to learn English and did so, beginning with the basic words. He enrolled in various schools, and although not a Catholic, attended classes at Notre Dame.

He eventually returned to Okinawa and landed a broadcasting job. However, through all his experiences, he said that memories of the war and Saipan were still very much alive in his mind.

He returned to Saipan in 1963 in hopes of locating family members, especially his two sisters, but was unsuccessful.

This year, Shiroma arrived on Saipan on May 31 and, with the help of Clarence Manglona, has been touring various sites on the island, including Suicide Cliff and Sugar King Park. He also took part in Monday’s commemoration of Memorial Day and the 35th Peace Memorial Service in Marpi.

“I cannot believe there was a war here,” he said. “The war was really sad because a lot of civilian people died. I cannot believe that this is just a small island but a lot of people died here…Now the place is very beautiful. It is unbelievable and the people are very nice. I hope the people become successful and everyone should be united in happiness.”

Shiroma and Manglona coincidentally met in Nagoya and were on the same aircraft to Saipan. Shiroma approached Manglona and expressed his need for help while on island, and Manglona took the initiative to help him.

“Someone told him I was a taxi driver and so he came up to me and asked for help in finding places here [Saipan],” said Manglona. “I told him to follow me and I’ll take care of you.”

Just before leaving for Okinawa, Shiroma said: “I was born here so it means a lot to me. It is a special place for me, it is my homeland, and I will never forget it until I die.”

“I hope everyone understands that war is not what the world needs. We don’t need war, we need peace. It’s sad that there is still war in other countries.”

He departed for Okinawa early yesterday morning, but said that he longs to return again.