Cape Soya

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Sunset on Cape Soya

Cape Soya (宗谷岬, Sōya Misaki^?) is Japan's northernmost point. It is situated on the island of Hokkaido, in Wakkanai, Soya Subprefecture. On a clear day it is possible to catch a glimpse of Sakhalin, Russia. It juts out into La Perouse Strait, across which is Sakhalin Island, Russia.

On the site of Cape Soya stands a memorial to the USS Wahoo, sunk with 80 souls aboard on October 11, 1943. The inscription on the memborial reads in part:

"When the Wahoo was lost it was the highest-scoring submarine in the U.S. Navy. Eighty Americans sleep in the Soya Strait 12 miles northeast of here. Many Japanese sleep in the Sea of Japan from Wahoo attacks. This monument was erected by the members of the Japanese Attack Group and relatives of Americans lying in the Wahoo. Old enemies met as brothers to dedicated that our countries will have lasting peace and war will never again destroy the friendship we now enjoy today."

The exact postion of the Wahoo was confirmed and fixed by a dive team from the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, LTD in July, 2006.