Cape Inutabu

Cape Inutabu at the western end of Tokunoshima Island looks out over the East China Sea from a limestone plateau formed by uplifted coral reef. The cliffs here were carved by wind and waves over long periods. The cape is also the site of a 24-meter-tall memorial designed to resemble hands joined in prayer, built in 1968 to honor the Yamato, one of the two largest battleships ever constructed. The Yamato was sunk on April 7, 1945 with the loss of over 3,000 sailors. Though later research confirmed the ship went down off southwest Kyushu, the town of Isen holds an annual memorial service here every April 7.