​​It Looks Just Like Another Picturesque View, But The Truth Is Much Deadlier

December 7, 1941. It’s a day all Americans remember as the day Japan attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbor. This initiated the U.S.’s involvement in World War II. Details of the entire tragedy can be found in every history book across the country, but one story you won’t find in any book is the attack on Japanese soil at Laderan Banadero.

Laderan Banadero, also known as Suicide Cliff, is located right above the Marpi Point Field in Saipan. In 1944, during the height of World War II, Suicide Cliff was the location where countless Japanese civilians and soldiers jumped to their deaths to avoid American capture. The precise number of casualties during the battle is still unknown.

Here’s an aerial view of Marpi Point Field and Suicide Cliff. The airfield was built by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Services, but following the Battle of Saipan, it was overtaken by the U.S. 24th Marines on July 9, 1944.

A park and peace memorial located just below the cliff was created in 1976.

The memorial is considered a pilgrimage destination for many Japanese visitors. It is also listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Unfortunately, the tragedy at Suicide Cliff didn’t end there. The cliff is a frequented spot for suicides to this day.

Out of dark times often comes tragedy, and what happened at this location just a few decades ago will haunt the surrounding area forever.