UENO, Gunma (Jiji Press)--Families of people killed in the 1985 crash of a Japan Airlines jumbo jet gathered at the site of the disaster Sunday to remember their loved ones on the 27th anniversary of the accident. The crash left 520 passengers and crew members dead.
As of noon, 222 people from 49 families had taken the steep trail to the crash site on Osutaka Ridge in the village of Ueno, according to JAL.
The trail stretches about 800 meters to the monument that stands at the crash site.
After paying respects at memorial markers for individual victims along the trail, the mourners gathered in front of the monument and prayed for the repose of the victims' souls and the safety of air travel as a bell tolled.
"I feel she's close to me when I come here," said Akizo Izutani, 78, from Kawachi-Nagano, Osaka Prefecture, who lost his 20-year-old daughter Junko.
This is his 70th trip to the crash site, as he hikes up the trail on the anniversary day as well as in May and October every year. "I want to come as long as I'm able to walk," Izutani said.
Yutaka Ochi, 53, from Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, made the pilgrimage for the first time in a couple of years to mourn his elder sister Yoshiko, who was killed in the accident at age 28.
"I came to tell her about the death of my father and the birth of my first grandchild," Ochi said as he prayed in front of the memorial marker for his sister. "The accident should never be repeated. We must pass on this message in words."
Later Sunday, JAL President Yoshiharu Ueki and Gunma Gov. Masaaki Osawa were to climb to the crash site. A memorial ceremony was also be held at the foot of the mountain.
In the world's deadliest single-aircraft accident, JAL Flight 123, a Boeing 747 bound for Osaka, lost control after taking off from Haneda Airport and crashed into the mountain north of Tokyo on Aug. 12, 1985. Only four people on board survived.
Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp
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