Posted on 05/26/2005 8:12:52 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Edited on 05/27/2005 12:51:25 AM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
Just only a quick blurb in the top news segement today, but Mainichi News reports that two elderly Japanese men in their 80s have turned themselves into or otherwise presented themselves to Japanese authorities in the southern Philippines in Mindanao, apparantly "surrendering" or at least talking to them, after holding our for nearly 60 years in the Philippines following Japan's WWII defeat.
A remarkable story if true.
Japanese-language Mainichi news story is linked. It is unclear what their Imperial Army unit was, if they knew the war had ended, and other details. They were said to be talking now with Japanese officials in a hotel on the island of "General Santos".
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UPDATE!
The latest from what I can tell (3:00 a.m. Eastern Time Friday, May 27, 2005). And by the way, thank you for your kind comment.
A veteran of the Pacific War living in Saitama Prefecture in Japan, a "Teraishi san", who works with the War Survivor's Group, collects the remains of fallen Japanese soldiers. He is in his mid 80s.
He received a call from another man who is married to a woman in the Philipines, who was working to collect word in a forested area in Southern Mindanao. It was only yesterday that Terauchi received this international call from the Philippines which was rather frantic.
The woman had apparantly crossed into or had been in Muslim extremist controlled territory and had heard throught Moro fighters of the existence of "two elderly men from the Japanese army". Further, she got the information that they wanted to get out and passed it on to Japan, where it got to Terauchi.
Terauchi of course worked with the Japanese government who, through the Embassy in Philippines, to get the information.
There are still some survivors around from those days (much as WWII survivors are in the States), and they still look out for their own. Terauchi was in tears in the interview, saying the men were afraid of "Japanese Military Court Martial" if they returned to Japan, but of course he urges them to get back to Japan. This is from Yomiuri news. It is in Yomiuri, Mainichi, Fuji, NHK, Asahi, you name it.
I'll try to post any links to Japanese TV about this. The Moderate might also put (UPDATE) after this thread title if they could do so. Done.
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Families of the men in Japan are reported as amazed, shocked and ecstatic.
In the case of (Sgt?) Nakauchi, his sister thought he was dead all these years. She stated that even before the WWII ended, they received a report he was killed, and they even "received his remains" after wards (ikotsu, literally, 'bones') and had buried him and it was all behind them.
They even had a funeral service when the 'body' was returned to the town, but since it was not recognizable I suppose they would have no way of knowing. At any rate, they want the men home ASAP.
Yamakawa's brother said "he sure hung in there," and expressed the same thoughts.
Nakauchi's mother died some 23 years ago. The Japanese authorities had given notice to the family in June 1945 that Nakauchi had been killed. Nakauchi's relative said that if the mother were alive she would be very happy.
Nakauchi's 'gravesite' can even be visited in Kochi Prefecture. It just says his name and rank, and "June 15, 1944, Killed in the War, 28 years old" on it. By the way, I'm getting that the men apparantly are not both (83), but one I believe is 87 and the other 85--so the age might have been an inaccuracy.
War buddies of the two men, a few still around, such as one fellow in Hiroshima, a "Nagai" (84) only had reflective thoughts of how bloody their battles were and "well, that's amazing. 60 years. I want to say "yoku yatta" when he returns ('you really hung in there').
Another relative expressed some trepidation about returning after all these years, and the fact there may be Philippine families effected because (one or both, not sure) the men married locally there.
The last one that I recall was in the 70s. That was considered pretty amazing back then. The guy was in all the news magazines. If this is real, then these guys are way more nuts than that guy. I'm wondering if these aren't just guys who deserted and got a native girl and a hut and settled down, and who now want to go home.
They might not take it well, and then commit suicide, or just wish to die as a result. I think they ought to stay in the PI if they are capable...and be left alone--but the Japanese Nation will probably not allow it.
I do have the compass from my father's Spitfire, which he apparently liberated when his squadron was demobilized after the war.
-ccm
maybe they could make a survivor show oh nevermind
I know which one of the two types I'd prefer to have around.
Indeed........suprised they lived this long without socialized medicine........:o)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/main/news/20050526it16.htm
We won the war, then had to buy all their cars.
Thats what I call real dedication!!!!!! Maybe we can run one for Senator of AZ and the other for Senator of SC. These guy's seem to know how to stick with a plan. Or maybe they can just serve as consultants for the republican party.
There were known holdouts on Guam into the 1970's.
You always bring us such interesting information. Thanks!
What's the old saying? "There is always a few jerks that don't get the word!"
Dang glad they'll be on our side when the Chinese come callin'.
Maybe the Dems could use these guys for the upcoming Big Filibuster.
The story would be believable if the two had fragged themselves when discovered, rather than to be captured and shamed.
They were horrendously effective enemies (embodying "no retreat, no surrender"), but they make excellent allies.
I just got through reading "Ghost Soldiers" which is an account of the Bataan Death March. Saying they were horrendously effective enemies, is an understatement. I was stunned to see just how brutal and vicious they were. Beheading soldiers for fun. I had 3 uncles who died in the Bataan Death March. After reading the book and learning that the Japanese soldiers were expected to commit suicide before being captured or surrendering, it's not surprising that they chose to hide out all these years, rather than killing themselves when the Japanese surrendered.
That was the first thing I thought of too., Ahhh, after school reruns on KHTV - Houston. Those were the good ole days.
Hard to frag yourself when you're out of ammo, grenades, or other munitions.
Or if your grenades have been sitting out in a tropical environment for 50 years - good luck with that old detonator...
Hear this Zarqawi!!!! Sooner or later you gotta come in. Lung or no lung.
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