Family members of victims climbed the Osutaka Ridge on Wednesday to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash [1].
The annual memorial climb serves as a vital effort to preserve the memory of the disaster and ensure that future generations learn from the tragedy.
The crash occurred on Aug. 12, 1985 [1], in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture. While some reports cite 520 victims [1], other records indicate a total of 524 deaths, including 509 passengers and 15 crew members [2].
Naoo Hayashi, 77, worked at a temporary morgue in a gymnasium in Fujioka City during the recovery efforts. He said the helicopters transporting the dead from the crash site, which was located approximately 50 kilometers away, arrived relentlessly [1].
"Helicopters came repeatedly every 20 to 30 or 40 to 50 minutes carrying the deceased," Hayashi said [1]. "It was a terrible thing. I thought it would not end quickly."
Hayashi described the chaos of the early recovery phase. He said he received a page on his pocket bell from the police asking how many coffins were available. He replied that there were about 15 coffins at the time [1].
The victims' families continued their climb to the ridge to offer prayers, and reflections. The site remains a place of pilgrimage for those seeking closure and a way to honor the lives lost in the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history.
“"It was a terrible thing. I thought it would not end quickly."”
The continued observance of the Flight 123 anniversary 41 years later highlights the deep, lasting trauma associated with Japan's worst aviation disaster. By integrating first-hand accounts from recovery workers like Hayashi with the rituals of the bereaved, the community attempts to transform a site of immense loss into a permanent educational landmark for aviation safety and grief recovery.
