World War II Monument in Biak Reminds the Scourge of Pacific War

RRI.CO.ID, Biak – A monument on Biak Island, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua, preserves the history of World War II. The cremated remains of several Imperial Japanese soldiers who died during the war are also kept at the site.

As Ribka Stevany of RRI Biak reported, the Biak World War II Monument is located in Anggraidi Village, also known as Paray Village, in Biak Kota District. Situated east of Biak town center, the monument stands along the coast and offers expansive views of the Pacific Ocean.

The monument was built under an agreement between the Indonesian and Japanese governments and was inaugurated on March 24, 1994. It was constructed by Japanese company Konoike Construction, with Indonesian company PT Sarana Nusatimur serving as the contractor.

The monument stands out for the many symbols incorporated into its grounds and architectural design. Most of the site consists of an open area featuring a semicircular concrete canopy.

The main structure is a slightly curved wall displaying the monument’s name in three languages: Indonesian, English, and Japanese. Inside the monument is a 10-meter-long corridor.

The corridor houses a Japanese flag, photographs of Japanese soldiers, and the cremated remains of Japanese troops who died during World War II, when Allied forces bombed Biak Island. The ashes are kept in an aluminum box. Visitors must pass through a small door to enter the corridor, and the door is not always open.

On the left side of the monument’s exterior stands a plaque written in three languages. It reads: "Monument for reminding of the scourge of war and its dire consequences, and desiring that this should not be repeated". The inscription reminds of the importance of world peace.

Every year, relatives of fallen soldiers visit the monument to hold prayers in memory of their loved ones. In 2025, the Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia at the time, Masaki Yasushi, commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II at this monument.