Japan Press Weekly

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2015 August 19 - 25 [PEACE]

Memorial service held for ex-Japanese POWs in Siberia and Mongolia

A memorial service took place on August 23 in Tokyo to remember the Japanese prisoner-of-war internees who died in Siberia and Mongolia after WWII due to hunger, cold, and forced labor.

A Russian diplomat for the first time participated in the annual ceremony held at Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery.

Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Koike Akira and JCP member of the House of Representatives Hatano Kimie also attended the gathering. Koike extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

A 94-year-old survivor, Ikeda Koichi said, “The law on special measures for postwar forced internees was established five years ago, but the whole picture of the situation of the former Japanese POWs has yet to be revealed. Historical recognition of the issue is necessary both at home and abroad.”

Accompanying her 94-year-old mother, actress Matsushima Tomoko took part in the event. She gave a speech on behalf of the victims’ families. She said, “War should never be allowed to happen again. Japan has been away from war for 70 years and this is what we should be proud of.”

Past related article:
> Japan’s war compensation remains unresolved [December 8, 2010]
> Law to provide benefits to former internees in Siberia enacted [June 17, 2010]