OBON Society Blog

4月22日〜25日にかけて、日本遺族会の水落会長と重井氏が、当団体の本拠地である米国オレゴン州を訪問され、各種関係者および当団体役員と協議を行いました。戦後80年目を迎える本年、双方が理解と協力のもと、遺霊品の返還を通じて友好と平和の促進、そしてその理念を次世代へ引き継いでいくことを改めて確認いたしました。
また、当団体本部事務所では、ご遺族が判明した軍事郵便ハガキ23枚と日章旗2枚を、レックスから水落会長へ直接手渡しました。
皆様の温かいご支援とご協力に、心より感謝申し上げます。

From April 22 to 25, Chairman Mizuochi and Mr. Shigei of the Japan War-Bereaved Families Association visited our headquarters in Oregon, USA. During their visit, they held discussions with various representatives, partners and members of our organization.
As we mark the 80th year since the end of WW2, both parties reaffirmed their mutual understanding and commitment to working together to promote friendship and peace through the return of wartime artifacts (Non-Biological Human Remains), while ensuring that these values are passed on to the next generation.
At our headquarters, 23 military postcards and 2 Yosegaki Hinomaru flags, for which the families of the original owners have been identified, were formally handed over from Rex to Chairman Mizuochi.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support!

２月１２日（水）午前１０時より、工藤文夫命「寄せ書き日の丸」返還式が開催されます。
ご遺族の工藤賢様をはじめ、地元遺族会や関係者の皆様に温かく迎えられ、旗の提供者であるクリスさん（元米兵のひ孫）が来日し、日章旗を手渡されます。
この式典には、日本遺族会の水落会長も東京からお越しいただき、OBONの代表であるレックス＆敬子も参列いたします。報道関係者の皆様には、この歴史的な瞬間にぜひご参加いいただき、平和や友好の喜びを多くの方々と共有していただけると幸いです。

 

実は、工藤文夫命の旗は昨夏、NAJASと米国日米協会、日米関係者らがオレゴン州ポートランドで年会合を開催した際、OBONが招待され、奇遇にも当団体が展示した旗の１枚が工藤文夫命の旗でした。その後、ご遺族が判明し、まるでご英霊が早く故郷に戻りたいと導かれているように、先日の京都ロームシアターでの講演会でも、この旗を披露させていただきました。
そして昨日は、工藤文夫命の旗を持参し靖国神社に参拝し、御礼を申し上げて参りました。
ついに、約８０年ぶりに工藤文夫命が故郷・大分へと帰ります。
皆様とのご縁に心より感謝申し上げます。
おおきに。

TOKYO — A Japanese flag, brought to America by a U.S. soldier who served in the Philippines during World War II, has returned home.

 

The signature-covered flag was taken as a war trophy by the late Bernard Stein, who fought in the Philippines as a member of the U.S. Army’s 38th Infantry Division, known as the Avengers of Bataan. The division landed on the main island of Luzon in January 1945 and helped liberate the Bataan Peninsula and secure Manila Bay.

 

Almost eight decades later, the veteran’s grandson, Scott Stein, an artists’ agent in New York City, sent the banner back to Japan so it could be given to relatives of the fallen Japanese soldier who carried it into battle.

 

It was presented to the family on Sunday during a ceremony in a town in southwestern Honshu, the largest of Japan’s four main islands. The late Bernard Stein, center, fought in the Philippines during World War II as a member of the 38th Infantry Division. (Scott Stein)

 

Many Japanese soldiers carried their country’s flags inscribed with names and messages from family and friends for good luck. Stein inherited the flag from his grandfather, who became a building inspector in Nassau County, N.Y., after the war and died two decades ago, he told Stars and Stripes during an Aug. 8 video call from New York.

 

As a youngster, he was fascinated by the banner and a Japanese sword at his grandfather’s home, but he didn’t know how they got there. “He never talked about his wartime experiences,” Stein said. “He must have seen some intense stuff in the war, but there were no mental health things when he returned. He just kept it bottled up.” Stein had no plans to hand the flag down to his own son. It was time for it to return home, “especially for the family that might not have any remnant of their lost loved one,” he said.

 

The search for the flag’s original owner began in 2017, when Stein sought help restoring the item. A friend Stein asked about fabric restoration told him about the Obon Society.

 

The nonprofit group helps veterans and their families return old war trophies like flags and swords. Japanese researchers helped the society trace some of the 50 signatures on the flag to Tottori prefecture, Keiko Ziak, founder of the Obon Society, said during the video call. It turned out that the soldier who carried the flag into battle, Yukikazu Hiyama, was born in Nichinan town on Feb. 15, 1922. He served as a corporal with the 1st Independent Tank Brigade and died in China on Aug. 17, 1945.

 

It was the first lost WWII flag returned to Tottori prefecture, Ziak said. It wasn’t only the fallen Japanese soldier’s family who was excited about the flag’s return, she said. This flag, brought to America by a U.S.soldier who served in the Philippines during the World War II, has been returned to the original owner's family members in Japan. (Scott Stein)

 

“The flag includes the names of many members of the community and people recognize their grandfathers’ or fathers’ names on it,” she said. The flag was given back to the fallen soldier’s son, Tsukasa Hiyama, 81. “I appreciate that Mr. Stein, who had the flag, returned it,” he said by phone Monday. “I want to thank him for it.” Hiyama also thanked the Obon Society and the Japan War-Bereaved Families Association, which helped find him.

 

The only son of the fallen soldier was born July 5, 1943, the same day his father left home for the Imperial Army and the war, Hiyama said. “Honestly, I don’t know anything about him,” he said of his father, adding that his parents had been married only a year when he was born. The Obon Society called in April to say that the flag would be returned, Hiyama said. “I was surprised,” he said, adding he didn’t think something that belonged to his father would be returned after all these years.

 

Hiyama said he hopes to display the flag so relatives of the people who signed it also see it. It is the only memento he has of his father. “I want to take time to take a close look at it,” he said.