PROJECT SAMURAI SOULS

Immediately after the end of WWII in the Pacific, an Allied force repatriated thousands of battle-hardened IJA (Imperial Japanese Army) soldiers. While overseeing the enemy troops being loaded aboard ships, Allied officers thought twice and ordered all IJA officers to remove their long Katana and short Wakizashi swords. Those relics were piled on the dock. That collection was later pushed into a small craft, towed offshore, and sunk. An inquisitive boy witnessed those events as they unfolded.

Decades later, that now-adult gentleman sent an annotated map to Mr Egan, who later met with that man’s son in California to validate the report. (See this 2004 press release). Immediately after VJ-Day, it was not uncommon for Allied military personnel in Japan’s occupied cities to find piles of abandoned Samurai swords. For general context see this 2014 TV report. 

Recovery operations will utilise ROVs only due to the ca. 2,000’ depth.

Very good subject for a documentary film, and an episode in the AR series.