How this visit was realized

For the period of between 12 September and 19 September 2010, six former US POWs, who had undergone hardships under Japanese military during WWII, and their family and bereaved family members, a total of 14 people visited Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Government (this project is termed as the Japanese / POW Friendship Program). It has been a long way to go to realize the invitation of former US POWs.

In America, in 1999, the Laws of California were revised, permitting those victims who had been forced to work by Germany and other Axis powers during WWII may ask for compensation and apology from the Corporations of those countries, which made them work like slaves and yielded high profit. Former POWs, Dr. Tenney (leader of the group) and others started a law-suit to the Japanese Corporations where they had worked. However, this law-suit was turned down by the US Supreme Court in 2003, which closed an avenue for them to complain to the court. Dr. Tenney and others have tried various appeals, however, in vain. Furthermore, former US POWs were excluded from the Japanese Government's invitation project for former Allied POWs and their families, which invited some British and Dutch POWs and their family members.

However, in May last year, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States, Ichiro Fujisaki, appeared at the General Assembly of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor (ADBC), and officially apologized them for the Japanese treatment of the POWs in WWII, which became a turning point to improve the situations greatly. This year, 65 years after the war, visiting of former US POWs and their family members to Japan has realized for the first time.

During their one-week stay, they were scheduled to attend meetings with the Japanese statesmen, visiting their old camp sites and the British Commonwealth Cemetery, attending lecture meetings at universities, and all sorts of events. The POW Research Network, together with the members of "US-Japan Dialogue on POWs" and "Japanese Society for friendship with ex-POWs and families", proposed to the Foreign Ministry that the we would visit the places of the visitors' interest with them, and hold an exchange meeting with the Japanese citizens, which were carried out successfully.

On the following day of their arrival, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met with the group, and extended his sincere apology on behalf of the Japanese Government. This was an epoch-making event which, we believe, made the former POWs and their family members relieve from a long-years' agony. Although they were not able to have the Japanese Corporations apologize, which was one other thing they had been aiming at, they all said that it was a wonderful journey meeting and getting together with many Japanese people. We were happy to learn that most of them are almost 90-years old, and yet they arrived home uneventfully.

Visiting members

Itinerary

13 Sept. (Mon): Apology of Foreign Minister Okada

On the morning of 13 September, the following day of their arrival, Foreign Minister Okada met them at the Foreign Ministry, and said, "On behalf of the Japanese government, I offer you my profound, heartfelt apology for the inhuman treatment you suffered." Dr. Tenney expressed his gratitude, "We welcome such opportunities." However, he stated that the Japanese Corporations which had forced the POWs to work have remained in silence for 65 years. They should also apologize.

The news were reported by the domestic and international media (see the list of media at the end), and the Foreign Minister Okada wrote his feelings at this meeting in his blog, which follows.

"......being unable to restrain their feelings of 65 years, many of them expressed their feelings. I listened to their stories; and I could not help asking myself that the people of US, who are an ally of Japan, have lived with such feelings toward Japan for as long as 65 years. Why the Japanese government could not have done something much sooner.

......Of course, what those former POWs said were very harsh, but at the same time, one of them has often visited Japan and kept exchange meetings with young Japanese people. We took photos together after the meeting, thereafter; one of them took the trouble to come to me, and told me that although there were cruel Japanese soldiers, there were also gentle and wonderful soldiers

......I strongly felt anew that each of us should be aware of what happened in the past accurately."

14 Sept. (Tue) - 15 Sept. (Wed): Each member visits his/her place of interest

The Tenneys

As mentioned earlier, Dr. Tenney was sent to Fukuoka No. 17 Branch camp after the terrible experiences in Bataan Death March, and was forced to work at the Mitsui Miike Coal mine. Since he had once revisited there, they visited Matsuyama City in Ehime Prefecture to make a visit to the gravesite of the late Mr. Toru Tasaka, who had had a home-stay at their place back in 1968, when he was an exchange student. He passed away last year. Dr. Tennys and Mr. Tasaka had been very friendly over 40 years. Ms. Yuka Ibuki of the US-Japan Dialogue on POWs accompanied the Tenneys. Thru friendly associations with Mr. Tasaka, Dr. Tenney learned of the Japanese culture and the lifestyle, and his anti-Japanese feelings gradually diminished. After making a visit to the gravesite, with Mr. Tasaka's widow, they enjoyed seeing the sights of Matsuyama, including a visit to the famous Dogo hot spring.

16 Sept. (Thurs): Visiting the Ryozen Kannon in Kyoto

On the evening of September 15, the 14 members arrived at Kyoto, and on the following 15th, they visited the Ryozen Kannon where the rosters of the Allied POWs who deceased during WWII is kept. Ms. Tokudome and Ms. Ibuki of the US-Japan Dialogue of POWs, Mr. Fukubayashi and Ms. Nishizato of the POW Research Network joined them.

Due to lack of communications with the temple, and a Buddhist priest, who was not familiar with the matter looked after them, they saw the cards for the US POWs, but could not open the cases in which the rosters were kept without the keys. Ms. Kragh, who found the card of her father killed aboard Enoura-Maru, was filled with thousands emotions, and began crying. She said, "I do not remember my father, because I was only 2 and half years old when parted with him. I thought, even though I could find his card, I would not have any particular feelings about it. I never expected to get so emotional. After the war, I was told that since the US had won the war, everybody should be happy, and we were not allowed to express our sorrow of losing our father. Especially living with my mother, who stayed single fostering two daughters, we were forbidden to behave unhappily in our childhood. Later on, I joined feminism movements, and have been holding out doggedly. Probably, the suppressed grief suddenly spouted out when I saw my father's card."

"There is no winner in war." said Mr. Jackfert, "Especially, the victims of the Oryoku-Maru and Enoura-Maru were killed by friendly fire." So saying, he showed a distressed look on his face.

	Ms. Kragh finds her father's card. Behind her are card boxes. (Courtesy of Ms. Yuka Ibuki)

17 Sept. (Fri):

Lecture at Diet Members' League to Promote International Initiatives of Change

The meeting was held at 102 Conference room of the Members' Office Building of the House of Councilors. The former POWs and their family members, a total of 14 people, Chairman of Diet Members' League to Promote International Initiatives of Change , former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata, 11 members of the House of Representatives/Councillors, former Secretary of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations Mr. Yano, and members of the Foreign Ministry. A member of the House of Councilors, Mr. Yukihisa Fujita acted as master of ceremonies. A total of seven individuals attended from the "Japanese Society for Friendship with ex-POWs and families", the US-Japan Dialogue on POWs, and POW Research Network.

After expressing his gratitude for the invitation and apology of the Japanese Government, Dr. Tenney, the leader of this visiting group, introduced each member of the group, then talked about his own wartime experiences, and appealed that Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Nihon-sharyo, Kawasaki-Juko, and other Corporations, which had used POWs as slave labors and mistreated them should apologize.

Farewell party sponsored by the Foreign Ministry

The party was held at the Prince Park-Tower hotel where they were staying. Seven people attended the party from the POW Research Network.
After speeches were delivered by the sponsor Vice Foreign Minister Takemasa, Dr. Tennney, Mr. Jackfert and others, Meimeihyo (POW's individual card), which the Foreign Ministry had obtained from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare were handed out to the former POWs. It seems that not everyone was given his own Meimeihyo.

18 Sept. (Sat):

Visiting the British Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokohama

The group of 14 people arrived at the cemetery on a large bus. Two members from the POW Research Network met them. They were interviewed by the Newsweek and TBS.
Although the cemetery is for the deceased soldiers of the British Commonwealth, 48 US POWs also sleep here. Most of them were the survivors of the Oryoku-Maru and Enoura-Maru. Then they deceased immediately after arriving at Moji aboard Brazil-Maru. Ms. Nancy Kragh told the following story when she was interviewed by Ms. Satoko Kogure. "My father was a doctor. We lived in the PI until I was three years old. My mother had never talked about my father. When I asked her about him, she gestured to me that she did not want to talk. As there was no his ashes, we could not make a gravesite. When my mother passed away 10 years ago, and buried her at a military cemetery, I had my father's name engraved on the tombstone. In/about 2000, I found a photo of my father taken at Cabanatuan POW camp, and was able to locate a person who had taken the photo with him. It was the first time I ever was told a story on my father from a person who had known him. Although my father had never been to Japan, I never did expect to get this sentimental as I am now."

	The ossuary where 48 USPOWs sleep. (Courtesy of Ms. Satoko Kogure)

An exchange meeting with the Japanese citizens

Presided by: POW Research Network, US-Japan Dialogue on POWs, and "Japanese Society for Friendship with ex-POWs and families"

First session: 1400-1530, Second session: 1530-1700

Place: B1 Room C, AP Hamamatsu-cho, Tokyo

Interpreters: Kinue Tokudome and Yuka Ibuki; Master of ceremonies: Taeko Sasamoto

Visiting members	Young and old attended the meeting

Mass Media

Domestic