Location
This location was dubbed "The Gifu" by the Japanese Army for an oval shaped area between Hills 31 and Hill 27 to the west of Mount Austen near the north coast of Guadalcanal. Also known as simply "Gifu". To the northwest is Hill 42. To the west are Seahorse and Galloping Horse. To the east is Mount Austen and roughly nine miles away is Henderson Field.

Wartime History
The Gifu was a Japanese Army defensive strong point in the jungle area between Hill 31 and Hill 27. This area was known as "The Gifu" the hometown of most of the Japanese defenders who resided in Gifu Prefecture in central Honshū in Japan.

During December 1942 until January 1943, the U. S. Army attacked this strong point to eliminate the Japanese defenders from their flank. To support the American attack, a road was built to access this area, later named Wright Road.

Today
During the 1960s, Barana (Mbarana) was established on the western edge of "The Gifu" between Hill 31 and Hill 27.

Hill 27
Site of Japanese defense, Japanese memorial to "Oka Force".

Hill 31
Site of the mass grave of the last 85 Japanese defenders killed during the final breakout attempt.

Hill 35 (Japanese Memorial)
Main Japanese memorial dedicated in 1984 at the foothills of Mount Austen and the Gifu.

U. S. Army Memorial at Gifu
Star shaped memorial to "The Final Destruction of Organized Japanese Resistance".

Barana
Postwar village built during the 1960. Barana village relic display area.

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019