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Byakkotai suicide day (Fukushima Prefecture)

during the Aizu WarAugust 23, 1868(October 8, 1868 in the Gregorian calendar),the Shinoda Platoon of the Byakko Second Company, while retreating to Wakamatsu, climbed Mount Iimoriyama and committed suicide.

the reason for their suicidewas that they mistakenly believed the castle had fallen upon seeing smoke rising from around Wakamatsu Castle and chose to end their lives. However, the memoirs of the sole survivor, Sadakichi Iinuma, titled "A Brief Account of the Byakkotai," contain a passage describing an exchange about whether they should return to Wakamatsu Castle or charge into the enemy lines. Therefore, it is now believed that they committed suicide to uphold their samurai principles, rather than be captured by the enemy and suffer the humiliation of living.

Of the 37 members of the Second Company, 17 returned to Wakamatsu Castle, and the remaining 20 are thought to have headed for Iimoriyama. 19 men, excluding Iinuma Sadakichi who survived, are believed to have committed suicide on Iimoriyama, where 19 gravestones were erected in November 1890 (Meiji 23)

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