Destroyer Kikuzuki Association

The Destroyer Kikuzuki Association (駆逐艦菊月会, Kikuzukikai) is a Japanese voluntary association formed by former military personnel, bereaved families, and supporters connected to the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Kikuzuki. The original association was established on May 27, 1982, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, but suspended activities in 1983. It was revived on October 17, 2017, following the return of the destroyer's No. 4 main gun from the Solomon Islands to Japan, an effort led by the General Incorporated Association Kikuzuki Hozonkai. The revived association inherited its name and naval ensign from the earlier group and is headquartered in Arakawa, Tokyo. The association conducts memorial services, research, and preservation activities related to Kikuzuki. It does not collect membership fees or donations for its events, instead funding each event through participant fees, and since October 8, 2020, it has accepted support donations only via crowdfunding. In 2021, it announced plans to erect a memorial monument at Jusen-in in Taito, Tokyo, in May of the following year, marking the 80th anniversary of Kikuzuki's sinking. However, in late February 2022, it received a threatening email suggesting an arson attack at the unveiling ceremony, and the ceremony was postponed to November of that year. The association has undertaken significant historical and underwater research. It reconstructed the final armament of Kikuzuki as drawings, which were distributed online in a limited run of 30 copies starting February 17, 2018, and later released on GitHub under a Creative Commons license on June 9, 2019. In August 2018, it conducted underwater surveys around Kikuzuki with underwater photographer Hiroyuki Tomura. It also surveyed the wreck of the destroyer Nagatsuki off Kolombangara at the request of crew families, marking the first such survey in the 21st century according to local public records. In 2019, following the Solomon Islands government's recognition of a heavy oil spill from Kikuzuki, the association carried out oil recovery operations until June 15, 2020. The association has faced online harassment and defamation, particularly related to the game Kantai Collection. From 2021 until its de facto suspension in 2023, it endured false accusations and threats. In March 2023, its then-representative secretary sent a protest letter to the game's operator, which led to further online attacks when it was spread in November 2023. The association retracted the letter, apologized, and the representative resigned. As of 2025, the association remains inactive. Its patronage division transitioned into the General Foundation Gunjo Zaidan on April 1, 2025.

The Destroyer Kikuzuki Association was originally established on May 27, 1982, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, as a veterans' association for the crew of the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Kikuzuki. However, on May 5, 1983, the association decided to suspend its activities. On May 5, 1992, a 50th memorial service for the war dead of Kikuzuki was held in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture. In 2017, the General Incorporated Association Kikuzuki Hozonkai facilitated the return of Kikuzuki's No. 4 main gun from the Solomon Islands to Japan. This event spurred bereaved families to re-form the veterans' association. On October 17, 2017, the first liaison meeting was held, marking the resumption of activities under the same name and naval ensign as the original group. The headquarters is located in Arakawa, Tokyo. In 2018, the association held a social gathering at Higashi Park in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on May 3, and absorbed the Gunjo Foundation Preparatory Committee on August 13. In 2019, it conducted a joint memorial service at sea for Kikuzuki and Nagatsuki in the Solomon Islands on March 9, and held a memorial ceremony for the war dead of Kikuzuki at Aichi Gokoku Shrine on May 5. On April 1, 2020, representative authority was transferred from the secretary to the chairman. The association has been active in research and preservation. It reconstructed the final armament of Kikuzuki as drawings, distributed online in a limited run of 30 copies from February 17, 2018, and released on GitHub under a Creative Commons license on June 9, 2019. From August 4 to 11, 2018, it surveyed the seabed around Kikuzuki with underwater photographer Hiroyuki Tomura. At the request of families of Nagatsuki crew, it conducted a survey of Nagatsuki off Kolombangara, the first such survey in the 21st century according to local public records, with permission from the aviation bureau, education ministry, and culture and tourism ministry. On November 18, 2019, the Solomon Islands government's environment ministry recognized the heavy oil spill from Kikuzuki, and the association conducted oil recovery operations until June 15, 2020. In 2021, the association announced plans to erect a memorial monument at Jusen-in in Taito, Tokyo, in May of the following year, marking the 80th anniversary of Kikuzuki's sinking. However, in late February 2022, it received a threatening email suggesting an arson attack at the unveiling ceremony, and the ceremony was postponed to November of that year. The association also faced online harassment. From 2021, after making an inquiry to the operator of the game Kantai Collection, until its de facto suspension in 2023, it endured defamation and threats based on false rumors, such as receiving bribes from a competitor of the game. In March 2023, the then-representative secretary sent a protest letter by email and mail to the company, asking it to encourage player self-restraint. However, in November 2023, the protest letter spread online and caused a firestorm, leading to further defamation. The association retracted the letter, stating it could not be treated as a unified opinion, and apologized. The representative secretary resigned, but defamation, rumors, impersonation, and unauthorized access continued. As of 2025, the association remains inactive. On April 1, 2025, its patronage division, which had supported activities deemed to contribute to the public good, transitioned into the General Foundation Gunjo Zaidan.

• 2025

  Patronage division transitioned into the General Foundation Gunjo Zaidan.

• 2023

  Sent a protest letter to the operator of Kantai Collection.

• 2023

  Protest letter spread online, causing a firestorm; the association retracted it and apologized; the representative secretary resigned.

• 2022

  Received a threatening email suggesting an arson attack at the unveiling ceremony; the ceremony was postponed to November.

• 2021

  Announced plans to erect a memorial monument at Jusen-in in Taito, Tokyo, in May of the following year.

• 2020

  Transferred representative authority from the secretary to the chairman.

• 2019

  Held a joint memorial service at sea for Kikuzuki and Nagatsuki in the Solomon Islands.

• 2019

  Held a memorial ceremony for the war dead of Kikuzuki at Aichi Gokoku Shrine.

• 2018

  Held a social gathering at Higashi Park in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture.

• 2018

  Absorbed the Gunjo Foundation Preparatory Committee.

• 2017

  Resumed activities with the first liaison meeting.

• 1992

  Held the 50th memorial service for the war dead of Kikuzuki in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture.

• 1983

  Decided to suspend activities.

• 1982

  Established in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture.

A non-profit veterans' association focused on memorialization, historical research, and preservation of the destroyer Kikuzuki's legacy.

• Online harassment and defamation

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• Resumption of activities in 2017Other

• No membership fees or donationsOther

1. 1Destroyer Kikuzuki Association - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2駆逐艦菊月会 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org