Bringing Closure, One Flag at a Time
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20201008202516214/
A Japanese woman and her American husband are returning long-lost relics of Japanese soldiers who died during WWII to the families they left behind. And it's helping heal the emotional scars of the war, in both Japan and the US.
![届けられた寄せ書き入りの日章旗...]()
届けられた寄せ書き入りの日章旗＝揖斐川町三輪で
2020年10月6日付：中日新聞にて
https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/132602
寄せ書き日章旗、遺族の元に揖斐川町の戦没者追悼式で
太平洋戦争で戦地に向かう日本兵に贈られた寄せ書き入りの日章旗が五日、揖斐川町の戦没者遺族に届けられた。
同町三輪の三輪神社であった戦没者追悼式典に合わせて返還され、関係者らが平和を守る思いを新たにした。
旗の持ち主は、同町三輪のパート高崎ひろみさん（４７）の母のいとこにあたり、フィリピンで戦死した高崎正さん。
縦六十センチ、横九十センチほどの旗には、出征兵の無事を願う「武運長久」の文字とともに、家族や友人らとみられる五十人以上の名前が寄せられている。
日章旗は当時、米軍兵が戦利品として持ち帰ったとみられ、旧日本兵の遺留品返還に取り組む米国のＮＰＯ「ＯＢＯＮソサエティ」が、日本遺族会などを通じて届けた。
遺族会からの調査依頼にあった正さんの本籍地が遺族を特定する手掛かりになった。
追悼式典に合わせて遺品の返還式を開き、ひろみさんと夫の武記さん（４７）が富田和弘町長から日章旗を受け取った。
二人は式典の出席者らと共に旗を広げ、書き込まれた名前をじっくりと確かめていた。
武記さんは「旗に署名してくれた人と、これを持って戦争へ行った正さんはどんな気持ちだっただろうか。
今の時代に生まれた僕には全然分からず、言葉がない。大切に保管して子どもたちに伝えていきたい」と、声を震わせて決意を語った。
![Family and friends wrote their...]()
Family and friends wrote their names and messages on flags when men were drafted.
"Returning relics to heal scars of war"
They say time heals all wounds, but sometimes the healing can take decades. Seventy-five years after the end of World War Two, some people are still working to was the pain of those who lost loved ones by returning artifacts taken by the victors.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1298/
Returning Relics to Heal Wounds of War: NHK WORLD- JAPAN News
World War II may have ended 75 years ago but many of the emotional wounds remain. NHK World's Yotsumoto Jun reports on a project that aims to heal old wounds by returning relics of the war from across the Pacific.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20200903030926543/
![Charles Gower Neville, a Britis...]()
Charles Gower Neville, a British soldier, served in WWII
Daily Astorian: Peace comes from within the heart
When British Veteran, Charles Gower Neville contacted OBON SOCIETY, he was 99 years old! We spoke with him directly and he was very happy of this successful result returning the flag. His message to Saito Family was actually he wrote himself on his iPad! (You can read his message to Saito family is in this article link below)
https://www.dailyastorian.com/opinion/columns/guest-column-peace-comes-from-within-the-heart/article_89b68ec6-eaf7-11ea-bf35-3f0161638bea.html
![Good Luck Flag (Yosegaki Hin...]()
Good Luck Flag (Yosegaki Hinomaru) submitted by Greg Murphy was traced back to a fallen Japanese soldier who carried it into battle in 1944. A nephew of the soldier received the flag safely.
OBON SOCIETY had an interview and featured the radio and online versions of NPR news. Here is a link to the story:
https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/post/tidying-past-pandemic-house-cleanings-produce-offers-return-world-war-ii-souvenirs
You can watch OBON SOCIETY - Intimate Stories (Episode 2) below link- Greg Murphy who commented in NPR:
https://youtu.be/UhkXPQF35to
Episode 14- August 25
Michele Simons: A WWII veteran's daughter explains the need to show respect to all families who send their sons off to war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmYKBQwkzcY
Episode 15- August 38
Sharon Leslie: The daughter of a WWII veteran describes the lessons of reconciliation taught to her by her father.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tAuoTfRzAI
In case you missed it... visit our YouTube Channel to see our most recent episodes: https://www.youtube.com/user/OBON2015
As little as $5.00 each month
(about the cost of one cup of coffee!)
will assure OBON SOCIETY
is able to help more families long
into the future.
https://obonsociety.org/eng/page/support#paypal
Episode 12- August 18
Mary Kaeding: Local newspapers extolled the bravery of one veteran’s battlefield actions, however, his niece decides the war trophy should return to the family in Japan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry5puWO12es
Episode 13- August 21
James Shubert of American Legion Post #25 of St. Maries, Idaho sends five flags back to Japan and shares the story of his uncle missing in WWII.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9pj09uRYz4
In case you missed it... visit our YouTube Channel to see our most recent episodes: https://www.youtube.com/user/OBON2015
As little as $5.00 each month
(about the cost of one cup of coffee!)
will assure OBON SOCIETY
is able to help more families long
into the future.
https://obonsociety.org/eng/page/support#paypal
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