Imperial couple honor deceased Japanese internees in MongoliaーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
Japan’s Emperor Narukito and Empress Masako are in Mongolia. As part of their state visit, they pay their respects to Japanese who died died while interned in the country. More than 10,000 nationals had been sent there by the former Soviet Union shortly after World War II. Here’s a look at the couple’s third day of the trip. Not the most welcoming weather for a welcome ceremony, but the emperor and empress were all smiles. Ditto the other attendees. They included three former Yokosumu grand champions. Then a visit to a gear. This one is reserved for guests of honor. Here the couple spoke with the president and his wife. people who came out to see the couple have big hopes for what this moment means for the two countries. I think this will be a good visit, allowing us to expect our bilateral friendship will last forever. a sense of optimism that would have been hard to imagine eight decades ago. Roughly 14,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians captured by the former Soviet Union were sent to Mongolia. Some 1,700 of them died from hard labor, starvation, and extreme cold. This monument is for the Japanese internes who didn’t make it home. The emperor and empress stopped here to pay their respects. They also spoke with families of the interseo is 102 years old and a former interneee. He says he hopes the imperial couple’s visit inspires many to learn about the internees who didn’t make it home, including one man he was detained with. Every day he would say things like, “I want to go back to Japan.” Or, “I want to eat miso soup with rice.” Then the next morning, roll call came. He wouldn’t get up. So I tried to wake him. He was cold to the touch. This man was from Chiba Prefecture. He was in his 30s. He was next to me and he was dead. Malnutrition, hard work, and the cold made living hell. Yamadashu experienced a similar hardship. The 107year-old watched the visit with others on his mind. Those who died must be happy to see this. They all died when they were about 30 years old. The most important thing is creating an era of peace.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako paid their respects Tuesday to about 1,700 Japanese internees who died in Mongolia shortly after World War II. It was part of the Imperial couple’s eight-day visit to the country. #asia #japan #ww2 #imperialfamily #mongolia
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