Memorial held for dogs from famous Antarctic expedition; Hokkaido event honours ‘majestic and heroic’ huskies

People offer white chrysanthemums and pray for the souls of Sakhalin huskies involved in historic Antarctic expeditions at a park in Wakkanai, Hokkaido, on Saturday. - Photo: The Yomiuri Shimbun

TOKYO: A memorial service to remember the Sakhalin huskies that accompanied Japan’s first Antarctic expedition team was held in Wakkanai Park in Wakkanai, Hokkaido, on Saturday (Aug 2).

The team left for the Antarctic in November 1956, bringing 22 Sakhalin huskies to pull sleds. Some of the dogs returned to Japan due to illness and wounds.