Preserving Hong Kong's neon heritage
But residents are striving to preserve them as a timeless symbol of Hong Kong's culture.
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Japan Times
7 hours ago
- Japan Times
Large number of Japanese war relics still offered on auction sites
A large number of Japanese World War II relics have found their way to online auction sites, raising concerns among those trying to preserve such items, with Japan set to mark 80 years since the end of the war. As it is difficult to identify the original owners of wartime relics put up for online auctions, in many cases, such goods are not returned to the bereaved families. One expert is calling on the government to establish a dedicated facility for their conservation. Many items such as swords that belonged to soldiers of the Imperial Japanese military and protective hoods used during air raids can be found on eBay. A search on the site using the Japanese words dainijisekaitaisen (World War II), nihon (Japan) and orijinaru (original) shows hits for over 20,000 items. Among them is a military sword priced at $260 (¥38,000) and a gas mask at $600. About 10 years ago, Japan's welfare ministry called on people to refrain from putting up war relics for online auctions, at the request of bereaved families and private organizations. It also asked auction website operators not to accept or sell such goods. The situation apparently remains little changed, however. A search on one auction site using the word kyūnihongun (former Imperial Japanese military) gives more than 3,500 hits, including water bottles and senninbari fabrics used as good-luck charms that belonged to former kamikaze suicide attack pilots. The original owners are unknown for an increasing number of items, after repeated online sales by memorabilia collectors. Chizuko Jaggard, who heads Project Returned Memories Kiseki, a U.S. nonprofit organization working to return wartime items to families of the original owners, said that it is becoming very difficult to get information on the circumstances surrounding wartime relics, including how they ended up in the hands of people who were not their original owners. While the number of relics put up for online auction remains largely unchanged from a few years ago, that of items returned to bereaved families has fallen sharply, Jaggard said. The original owners are unknown for about 95% of all items on auction sites, she said. Kiyofumi Kato, a professor at Komazawa University specializing in modern and contemporary Japanese history, expressed a profound sense of crisis over Japanese wartime items being scattered around the world and lost. According to Kato, museums and other facilities run by the private sector often decline bereaved families' proposals to donate wartime memorabilia, citing a lack of storage space as the main reason. Such items may end up either being thrown away or put up for online auctions. "It's sometimes difficult to establish war-related facilities due to differences in the understanding of history," Kato said. "With 80 years soon set to pass since the end of World War II, we are no longer at a stage where we question whether the war should have been fought or not," he added. "The government should create a facility that offers an opportunity for people to think together, through wartime relics, what the war was about," Kato said.
Japan Times
a day ago
- Japan Times
Hiroshima schoolboy keeps memories of war alive with guided tours in English
Since the age of 7, Japanese schoolboy Shun Sasaki has been offering free guided tours to foreign visitors at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with a mission: ensuring that the horrors of nuclear war do not fade from memory with the passage of time. Now age 12, Shun has conveyed that message to some 2,000 visitors, recounting in his imperfect but confident English the experiences of his great grandmother, a hibakusha who survived the atomic bomb. "I want them to come to Hiroshima and know about what happened in Hiroshima on Aug. 6," Shun said in English, referring to the day the bomb was dropped in 1945. "I want them to know how bad is war and how good is peace. Instead of fighting, we should talk to each other about the good things of each other," he said. About twice a month Shun makes his way to the peace park wearing a yellow bib, with the words "Please feel free to talk to me in English!" splashed across the back, hoping to educate tourists about his hometown. His volunteer work has earned him the honor of being selected as one of two local children to speak at this year's ceremony to commemorate 80 years since the A-bomb was dropped — its first use in war. Shun is now the same age as his great-grandmother Yuriko Sasaki was when she was buried under rubble as her house, about 1.5 kilometers from the hypocenter, collapsed from the force of the blast. She died in 2002, at age 69, of colorectal cancer, having survived breast cancer decades earlier. The uranium bomb instantly killed about 78,000 people and by the end of 1945 the number of dead, including from radiation exposure, had reached about 140,000. The U.S. dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9. Canadian Chris Lowe said Shun's guided tour provided a level of appreciation that went beyond reading plaques on museum walls. "To hear that about his family ... it surely wrapped it up, brought it home and made it much more personal. So it was outstanding for him to share that," he said. Shun said he plans to continue with the tours as long as he can. "The most dangerous thing is to forget what happened a long time ago ... so I think we should pass the story to the next generation, and then never forget it ever again."
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
Charming Chikuwa has a zest for life
Chikuwa is pretty, charming and has a great personality. She turns 5 years old in November and weighs just over 15 kilograms — a very manageable size. Within minutes of meeting you, she'll likely roll over and ask for a belly rub. Her curiosity about the world around her is captivating. She enjoys a brisk walk and, though she might tug on the leash a bit, she's a very fast learner. A charming dog that relishes a brisk walk, Chikuwa will make a great companion for someone who loves to explore the world as much as she does. | Yukari Yamaguchi Inquisitive and playful, Chikuwa is in Tokyo right now looking for someone to adopt her. Take note that she doesn't enjoy the company of cats and may have a problem with certain dogs, especially those that rush over without warning. But once you get to know Chikuwa, you'll find that she's certainly one of the sweetest around. If you are interested in adopting, email ARK at Tokyoark@ or call 050-1557-2763 (English or Japanese) Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Animal Refuge Kansai (with offices in Kansai and Tokyo) is an NPO founded by U.K. native Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are required to undergo a screening process. Web:
