2 days ago
'Kamishibai' story recounts girl's wartime experiences, 80 years on
An 87-year-old Japanese woman has been advocating the importance of peace by recounting her harrowing return to Japan from former Manchuria, now northeastern China, through a kamishibai picture story show.
Kyoko Miura heads a civic group based in the city of Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, that is working on passing down stories of World War II to future generations.
Three years ago, she created a kamishibai story about her escape back to Japan as a young girl after the end of the war, during a time of severe food shortages.
A native of Miyagi, Miura relocated to Mukden, Manchuria, now Shenyang, as a baby.
Her kamishibai story, "Anmochi and Chocolate," starts off with her memory of selling anmochi red bean rice cake, made by her mother, on the streets of Mukden with her older brother to help her family.
Shortly after Japan's surrender in the war on Aug. 15, 1945, rumors began to circulate that Chinese people were attacking local Japanese communities to steal household goods and abduct women. When Miura's community was attacked, her mother and others smeared sumi black ink on their faces and hid in a toilet.
During the attack, Miura was given a bar of chocolate by a soldier who was likely Chinese.
"I believe that (the gift) was a message of encouragement that I must return home alive," she said, although the reason for the gift is still unknown.
On her way back to Japan, Miura carried a randoseru school backpack filled with sugar, enduring food shortages. Her mother tied white fabric around herself and her four children, including Miura, so that they would not get separated.
Miura and her family returned home a year after the end of the war.
The story ends with the words: "I never forgot the anmochi that protected my life with my family and the chocolate that made me realize people's kindness at a time filled with anxiety. These two are sweets that I will never forget for the rest of my life."
Miura said she had been reluctant to share her experiences because her time in Manchuria was filled with hardships and she did not think people would be interested in her story.
Four years ago, she happened to talk about her escape from Manchuria to a friend, who encouraged her to share her experiences while she still could.
Working together with a picture book expert and others, Miura spent about a year completing her kamishibai story.
She often meets people at her kamishibai shows who, like her, made the journey back to Japan after the war.
"I'm thrilled when people start telling me their stories after I've shared mine," she said.
Almost 80 years ago, many Japanese people experienced tragedies while fleeing Manchuria due to food shortages and the invasion by the Soviet Union.
"People have all kinds of stories from their time of returning home," she said. "I hope that more people listen to my experiences and think about peace."
