Unconfirmed: Two Living, Ex-Japanese Soldiers Found in Philippines (Mindanao)

Mainichi News in Tokyo (in Japanese) (linked) ^ | 26 May 2005 | Mainichi Shimbun in Japan (in Japanese)

[Crawdad]

On Memorial Day Weekend?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Well, actually several days ago. However, if the things that were snagging it are unsnagged, such as the Japanese journalists can be kept at bay, the two guys might come out. Here is a 56k streaming Windows Media report from a few hours ago from a Japanese TV station on today's situation there:

http://www.kyodo.co.jp/photo/PN20050528/PN2005052801004765.-.-.CI0002.jpg

[quadrant]

I wonder if they will get sixty years of back pay.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Since their employers long ago went out of business, (the Government of the Empire of Japan, and the Japanese Imperial Army), I do doubt it.

[AmericanInTokyo]

They are probably expecting one of THESE to take them back to the Port of Yokohama:

[Spktyr]

The IJA has ben out of business for quite a while, so there probably is no back pay coming. That said, I think the Japanese people will probably give them enough money that they don't need to worry much.

[Spktyr]

Wait until they find out that they will probably go back to Japan on one of these:

[BobS]

"were living in the mountainous area conrolled for the MILF"

I'd like to see those guys expressions when they get to THAT website!

[11th_VA]

perhaps it was a huge sum for the men for an exclusive interview?

I never thought of that ... hmmm ....

[Spktyr]

[snicker[

[AmericanInTokyo]

If some local Japanese enterpriser in Japan in General Santos City now says "I cut a deal with the MILF and paid them off, so can you guys (Japan) also kick in to the kitty a bit? I'll bring Nakauchi and Yamakawa down on from the mountain top.", then I as a Japanese foreign ministry official in from Manila would say, "Makoto ni arigato gozaimasu. Well, many thanks for the request sir. We appreciate your great kindness and impressive duty here in Mindanao as a Japanese citizen to help those other poor Japanese men home to Nippon after so very very long. For your reward, we have just heard from Tokyo that not only does Prime Minister Koizumi intend to meet Nakauchi and Yamakawa upon their return to Tokyo, but the Prime Minister would also be most pleased by your attendance as well and wishes to thank you in person and with decoration for your duty."

And leave it at THAT.

I'd see if this Japanese local 'broker' in Mindanao that I am hearing about now would have much else to say, or turn down the offer perhaps. That would say a lot to me.

That is at least my thoughts at this point at 5:45 p.m. Eastern as we continue to follow the story.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

My wife is from General Santos. I'm sure glad this situation waited to boil until after I left, I can only imagine the media circus it is now. I'm sure my former room, a presidential suite, is chock full of these media guys.

[AmericanInTokyo]

You would be interested in this video from JNN News, released just recently. It is 300k and can be viewed through Windows Media Player. It shows scenes of General Santos City today, local newspaper reporting, a view of the mountain area by ground and air, a Japanese embassy official saying not much is known and talks still continuing, and finally, a posted message by an Embassy person on a wall, in Japanese, urging reporters NOT to go up into the mountains which are anti government guerilla controlled.

Saw this Japanese TV clip, report just now, at 7:10 p.m. Eastern / 4:10 Pacific Saturday:

http://www.bcast.co.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo/news.asx?cid=20050529-00000000-jnn-int-movie-001&media=wm300k

[AmericanInTokyo]

PING, and alert.

[11th_VA]

I'm reading the Japanese are down playing this event now. I'm wondering if they just want some of the media folks to go away.

[fso301]

Story looking more doubtful.

http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20050529a2.htm

[11th_VA]

Philippine rebels seek ransom for release of ex-Japanese soldiers

TOKYO (AFP) - Philippine rebels are demanding 232,000 dollars in ransom for the return of two elderly Japanese soldiers believed to have been hiding in the jungle since the end of World War II, a daily said.

Guerrillas controlling part of the lawless island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines initially demanded five million yen (46,000 dollars) in exchange for "delivering" the two men to Japanese authorities, the Mainichi Shimbun said, citing a Japanese businessman who reported their presence.

But the guerrillas have now raised the ransom to 25 million yen (232,000 dollars), the businessman said.

The newspaper did not say if the pair were being held against their will.

The Japanese embassy in Manila sent officials on Friday to General Santos city, 1,300 kilometres (806 miles) south of Manila, to meet the two men believed to be on the island.

While they have not been seen, Japanese media said they had been living in guerrilla-controlled mountains near General Santos until late this month. It is not known if they knew of Japan's surrender in August 1945 to Allied forces.

The Tokyo Shimbun, however, said the two elderly soldiers are expected to meet Japanese embassy officials in a few days.

"I will let the two meet embassy officials nearly next week," an unauthorized Japanese middleman who claims to have had contact with the two men told the daily on Saturday.

It was not clear if he was the same man as the businessman referred to in the Mainichi Shimbum report.

"I cannot reveal details of their meeting place, but the place is about 150 kilometers (93 miles) away from General Santos," said the unidentified man, who was on Mindanao collecting the remains of dead Japanese soldiers.

"The two soldiers left over there are now living with local guerrillas in the mountains," the negotiator said. "The guerrilla side has already agreed" to allow them to leave the rebel camp, he added.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050529/wl_asia_afp/japanwarphilippines_050529023615

[SevenofNine]

JUST DAMNN AIT

I wonder if they have kin folks still alive in Japan

[AmericanInTokyo]

You may be right. If it was a 'detchi age' story, they sure had all the pieces in place, including factual names, units (in the Japan Imperial Army), other details, and things that line up with an eyewitness of two years ago who also apparantly encountered the same too men, very shy about coming forward, and returning to the mountains. Let's see.

I'll provide what else is known at this time.

I will add that the Japanese news on NHK had it at story #2, and in a later broadcast at story #7.

[AmericanInTokyo]

It is probably too early to know.

I did hear and see the interview on NHK today with the MILF leader who said, 'there is no money that we demanded from the Japanese or nation or government or individual for that matter' to release the two. Of course, perhaps to his knowledge. Who knows what local guerilla commanders may have demanded, knowing the hopelessly CORRUPT nature of the Philippines.

I have some ways we could at least confirm if the bones in Sgt. Nakauchi's grave back in Japan are his or not, for sure (DNA kantei). I think that should be the next step if this goes into 'overtime.'