In Pingtung, Taiwan, experts gathered to pay respects before an excavation began to recover the remains of Japanese soldiers from World War II. This site correlates with the sinking of a military vessel and other ships in the Bashi Channel in 1944 when attacked by U.S. forces. Historian Kazuko Tachi, an activist involved in the effort, estimates over 4,700 soldiers and crew members perished, leaving only 65 survivors.
Taiwan, although self-governing, was under Japanese control from 1895 until World War II ended. Tatsuaki Inoue, from the Japan Association for the Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties, noted the likelihood of many bodies reaching the shore due to the sinking incident. The excavation in Hengchun Township is scheduled to last a week. If Japanese remains are discovered and DNA is extractable, plans are in place to send them back to Japan.
Japan enacted legislation in 2016, focusing on the accelerated recovery of war remains, with DNA testing efforts extended through 2030. This follows a history where official records indicate that about 41,900 Japanese soldiers died in Taiwan during WWII, with around 15,600 still missing as thousands remain unrecovered globally.
The previous excavation in Taiwan was in 1975, yielding 242 bodies. Inoue expressed regret over the long wait but also contentment with being able to search for the remains. Years of interviews and historical record analysis by historians, residents, and Japanese volunteers suggest a gathering place near the discharge outlet of Taiwan’s Third Nuclear Power Plant.
Religious groups have notably assisted in recovery. Over 2.4 million Japanese soldiers perished overseas during WWII, with nearly 1 million remains yet to be found. Professor Akira Nishimura from the University of Tokyo highlighted public demand leading to recovery initiatives between the 1950s and 1970s. He suggests unresolved circumstances of relatives add urgency to recovery projects for bereaved families.
Religious organizations and volunteers have significantly contributed to recovering remains and conducting memorial services for families while preserving the memories of those lost. In Pingtung, monuments honor Japan’s war dead, like the Chaoyin Temple dedicated to those who died in the Bashi Channel, boasting inscriptions praying for world peace.
Associate Professor Beatrice Trefalt of Monash University notes the uniqueness of Japan’s wartime losses with many soldiers dying at sea. A continuous postwar search underscores the government’s role in acknowledging those conscripted and lost during the conflict.
Tachi’s involvement followed her learning of the soldiers’ fate from local accounts after moving to Taiwan. She emphasizes memorial services’ importance for war dead, continuing such practices.
Reported by Hernández from Beijing and contributions by AP journalists Mayuko Ono and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo.