Episode 188 – Lifting the Lost, Part 6

April 8, 2017 3 Comments

This week, we talk about what it took to make a peace on paper a peace in fact. With millions of Japanese civilians and soldiers scattered across Asia, what would it take to get them all home again?

Listen to the episode here.

Sources

Barshay, Andrew. The Gods Left First. 

Dower, John. Embracing Defeat. 

Spector, Ronald. In the Ruins of Empire/

Images

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Japanese POWs debarking at Yokosuka. After a brief “de-orientation” period they were released into the public.
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Japanese POWs in Siberia. The Soviets proved easily the most brutal of potential captors for the Japanese.
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Repatriation proved difficult for children in particular. Some families were forced to leave them behind in order to escape; others, like this girl, were separated from their families in the chaos or were the only ones to make it to a port.
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Japanese troops preparing to board ships headed from China to Japan. The white box carried by the man in front holds the ashes of one of his comrades.
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Ahiko Tetsuro circa 2011.

3 thoughts on “Episode 188 – Lifting the Lost, Part 6”

  1. I can’t believe you didn’t mention Hiro Onoda! He’s the guy who fought in the Philippine jungles and refused to surrender until the 70s.

    1. I honestly want to do an entire episode on him at some point, that’s why! His story is incredibly fascinating, especially the responses when he finally did return.

  2. Hi Isaac,
    Thank you for the podcast. I really appreciate the work you are doing here, and use the podcast in my courses.
    A (really) small issue – Chou Isamu did commit suicide, but not in order to avoid trial. He was actually one of the leading commanders of the Battle of Okinawa, and commited Seppuku when they lost.
    Keep on the good work!

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