etwas, represented by Takashi Sadahiro, has launched the Kaiten / Ozushima Experience on Viator, a global travel platform, making the experience available to international travelers.

Based on Ozushima Island in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the experience takes visitors to the Kaiten Memorial Museum and the remains of a former training base for Japan’s WWII human torpedoes. It offers a rare opportunity to encounter a lesser-known aspect of wartime history, while also experiencing the island’s present-day life and local efforts to sustain the community. The experience adds another perspective to  visits to Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

The experience was created and is guided by local university student Futaba Shiigi, who first developed the idea out of desire to keep the history of Kaiten from fading away.  Lunch is served at a café run by the community group Rainoshima, led by spatial designer Shogo Matsuta, offering insight into ongoing efforts to revitalize the island. The program also includes a traditional “kamishibai” storytelling session by local resident Chieko Matsumoto, connecting visitors with the island’s culture and everyday life.

In feedback from previous participants, all respondents rated the experience highly, expressing strong satisfaction with both its historical elements and its focus on the island’s present-day revitalization efforts.

With its launch on Viator, the experience can now reach more travelers from around the world and continue sharing the story of Ozushima more widely.

Learn more & book here