Latest news with #PacificWar
Asahi Shimbun
2 days ago
- Health
- Asahi Shimbun
WWII Japanese troops' PTSD revealed for 1st time at museum
An exhibit showcasing the psychological trauma that Imperial Japanese Army troops suffered during the Pacific War has opened in a museum in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. The materials and items are a result of Japan's first national survey into the trauma experienced by Japanese soldiers. The exhibition opened on July 23 at the Shokei-Kan, a historical materials hall for wounded and sick retired soldiers. Although the show is temporary to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, it is scheduled to become a permanent exhibit starting in February next year. The existence of soldiers suffering from psychological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was concealed during the war and remained hidden even in the years following the conflict. However, families of former soldiers are increasingly giving testimonies about the effects of war trauma in recent years. This has attracted attention not only to the soldiers' personal suffering but also to the harm inflicted on their families, such as abuse by veterans struggling with unresolved mental scars. In response to the testimonies of the soldiers' families, the government conducted research during the last fiscal year by collecting and analyzing medical records and personal accounts preserved in former military hospitals and other institutions. The exhibition, titled 'soldiers with emotional wounds,' features stories of veterans who directed violence against family members even after the end of the war. Akio Kuroi, representative of an association for families of Japanese soldiers with PTSD, which has long been offering testimonies, visited the exhibit on July 24. He welcomed the new awareness, saying, 'The government has finally taken the first step.' 'There are still many former soldiers who have not been officially recognized as war-injured by the government,' Kuroi said. 'Their families continue suffering even now. A full-scale investigation must be carried out under the government's responsibility to uncover the reality.'
The Star
21-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Wreck of WWII Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki found 83 years after sinking
TOKYO: A shipwreck thought to be the Teruzuki, an Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer, was recently found on the seabed off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, according to a US marine survey team. The survey team, which includes Japanese researchers, conducted the search off the South Pacific Ocean island, where one of the deadliest battles in the Pacific War took place. The Teruzuki sank in December 1942 while transporting supplies to Japanese soldiers on Guadalcanal, the largest of the Solomon Islands. During World War II, the Japanese and US militaries fought fiercely for the airfields and other military facilities on the island. On the Japanese side, more than 20,000 soldiers died on the island, and many of them starved to death. In addition to starvation, many died of malaria and other diseases. In Japan, Guadalcanal has been called 'Gato' (island of starvation). 'Seeing the warship helps us understand the hopeless situation faced at that time,' said one of the Japanese researchers. The 134m-long Teruzuki was built in August 1942 and was the Imperial Japanese Navy's second Akizuki-class destroyer. In December that year, the ship was hit and immobilised by US torpedoes while escorting warships carrying food and other supplies to the island. It was the Teruzuki's own crew that ultimately sank the ship, and about ten crew members who were unable to escape died. According to the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), the US marine research organisation that conducted the survey, the shipwreck believed to be the Teruzuki was found in an area known as the Iron Bottom Sound, an area where many warships sank. The OET conducted the search with an unmanned underwater vehicle on July 11, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, with assistance from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The main part of the shipwreck was found on the seabed 800m underwater, and the broken stern of the ship's body was found at another location about 200m away. The damage on the ship matches testimonies of former crew members who survived the sinking, and the numbers and positions of gun turrets are the same as on the Teruzuki. Two Akizuki-class destroyers, including the Teruzuki, sank in sea areas off the Solomon Islands, according to war records. As the other destroyer has already been found, the researchers concluded that the shipwreck was the Teruzuki. At the time of the sinking, Japan had lost air superiority over the Pacific Ocean, so supplies to Guadalcanal were cut off. The Imperial Japanese Navy began missions using destroyers, a highly manoeuvrable type of ship capable of sailing at fast speeds, to transport supplies in place of transport ships, which sail at lower speeds. However, most of the operations failed. 'The Teruzuki symbolises the Japanese military's hardships in overcoming the desperate supply problem,' said Hiroshi Ishii, a researcher at Kyoto University's Centre for South-east Asian Studies, who participated in the marine survey. The OET had another success in 2023 when it took photos of wrecks of the Akagi, an aircraft carrier that was sunk in the Battle of Midway in 1942. 'People can understand the reality of war by seeing photos of sunken ships and other evidence,' said Dr Kotaro Yamafune, a visiting professor at Kyoto Tachibana University, who studies shipwreck archaeology. Kazushige Todaka, director of the Yamato Museum in Kure, Hiroshima prefecture, said: 'The Teruzuki was one of the rare destroyers that were designed for anti-aircraft warfare. 'The original shape is still in excellent condition, and considering the appearance of the gun turrets, there's no doubt it's the Teruzuki.' - The Japan News/ANN
Straits Times
21-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Wreck of WWII Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki found 83 years after sinking
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The Teruzuki sank in December 1942 while transporting supplies to Japanese soldiers on Guadalcanal, the largest island of the Solomon Islands. TOKYO - A shipwreck thought to be the Teruzuki, an Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer, was recently found on the seabed off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, according to a US marine survey team. The survey team, which includes Japanese researchers, conducted the search off the South Pacific Ocean island, where one of the deadliest battles in the Pacific War took place. The Teruzuki sank in December 1942 while transporting supplies to Japanese soldiers on Guadalcanal, the largest island of the Solomon Islands. During the War, the Japanese and US militaries fought fiercely for the airfields and other military facilities on the island. On the Japanese side, more than 20,000 soldiers died on the island, and many of them starved to death. In addition to starvation, many died of malaria and other diseases. In Japan, Guadalcanal has been called 'Gato' (island of starvation). 'Seeing the warship helps us understand the hopeless situation faced at that time,' said one of the Japanese researchers. The 134m long Teruzuki was built in August 1942 and was the Imperial Japanese Navy's second Akizuki-class destroyer. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Witness stand not arena for humiliation in sex offence cases, judge reminds lawyers Asia Japan's Ishiba vows to stay on despite historic election setback Business Bigger, quieter, greener: High-volume low-speed fans see rising demand in warming Singapore Singapore New home owners in Singapore find kampung spirit on BTO Telegram groups Singapore What would it take for S'pore to shed the dirty image of its blue recycling bins? Business DBS hits record high above $47; CDL up after director Philip Yeo announces resignation World Gaza civil defence says Israeli fire kills 93 aid seekers In December that year, the ship was hit and immobilised by US torpedoes while escorting warships carrying food and other supplies to the island. It was the Teruzuki's own crew that ultimately sank the ship, and about 10 crew members who were unable to escape died. According to the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), the US marine research organization which conducted the survey, the shipwreck believed to be the Teruzuki was found in a sea area known as the Iron Bottom Sound, an area where many warships sank. The OET conducted the search with an unmanned underwater vehicle on July 11, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, with assistance from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The main part of the shipwreck was found on the seabed 800m under water, and the broken stern of the ship's body was found at another location about 200m away. The damage on the ship matches testimonies of former crew members who survived the sinking, and the numbers and positions of gun turrets are the same as on the Teruzuki. Two Akizuki-class destroyers, including the Teruzuki, sank in sea areas off the Solomon Islands, according to war records. As the other destroyer has already been found, the researchers concluded that the shipwreck was the Teruzuki. At the time of the sinking, Japan had lost air superiority over the Pacific Ocean, so supplies to Guadalcanal were cut off. The Imperial Japanese Navy began transportation missions using destroyers, a highly maneuverable type of ship capable of sailing at fast speeds, to transport supplies in place of transport ships, which sail at lower speeds. However, most of the operations failed. 'The Teruzuki symbolizes the Japanese military's hardships in overcoming the desperate supply problem,' said Hiroshi Ishii, a program-specific researcher of Kyoto University's Centre for Southeast Asian Studies who participated in the marine survey. The OET had another success in 2023 when it took photos of wrecks of the Akagi, an aircraft carrier that was sunk in the Battle of Midway in 1942. 'People can understand the reality of war by seeing photos of sunken ships and other evidence, and (finds like this) can help console the souls of soldiers who died,' said Professor Kotaro Yamafune, a visiting professor of Kyoto Tachibana University who studies shipwreck archaeology. Mr Kazushige Todaka, director of the Yamato Museum in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, said: 'The Teruzuki was one of the rare destroyers that were designed for anti-aircraft warfare. 'The original shape is still in excellent condition, and considering the appearance of the gun turrets, there's no doubt it's the Teruzuki.' JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Yomiuri Shimbun
20-07-2025
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Wreck of WWII Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyer, Teruzuki, Found on Seabed off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; 83 Yrs After Sinking
A shipwreck thought to be the Teruzuki, an Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer, was recently found on the seabed off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, according to a U.S. marine survey team. The survey team, which includes Japanese researchers, conducted the search off the South Pacific Ocean island, where one of the deadliest battles in the Pacific War took place. The Teruzuki sank in December 1942 while transporting supplies to Japanese soldiers on Guadalcanal, the largest island of the Solomon Islands. During the War, the Japanese and U.S. militaries fought fiercely for the airfields and other military facilities on the island. On the Japanese side, more than 20,000 soldiers died on the island, and many of them starved to death. In addition to starvation, many died of malaria and other diseases. In Japan, Guadalcanal has been called 'Gato' (island of starvation). 'Seeing the warship helps us understand the hopeless situation faced at that time,' said one of the Japanese 134-meter-long Teruzuki was built in August 1942 and was the Imperial Japanese Navy's second Akizuki-class destroyer. In December that year, the ship was hit and immobilized by U.S. torpedoes while escorting warships carrying food and other supplies to the island. It was the Teruzuki's own crew that ultimately sank the ship, and about 10 crew members who were unable to escape died. According to the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), the U.S. marine research organization which conducted the survey, the shipwreck believed to be the Teruzuki was found in a sea area known as the Iron Bottom Sound, an area where many warships sank. The OET conducted the search with an unmanned underwater vehicle on July 11, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, with assistance from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The main part of the shipwreck was found on the seabed 800 meters under water, and the broken stern of the ship's body was found at another location about 200 meters away. The damage on the ship matches testimonies of former crew members who survived the sinking, and the numbers and positions of gun turrets are the same as on the Teruzuki. Two Akizuki-class destroyers, including the Teruzuki, sank in sea areas off the Solomon Islands, according to war records. As the other destroyer has already been found, the researchers concluded that the shipwreck was the Teruzuki. At the time of the sinking, Japan had lost air superiority over the Pacific Ocean, so supplies to Guadalcanal were cut off. The Imperial Japanese Navy began transportation missions using destroyers, a highly maneuverable type of ship capable of sailing at fast speeds, to transport supplies in place of transport ships, which sail at lower speeds. However, most of the operations failed. 'The Teruzuki symbolizes the Japanese military's hardships in overcoming the desperate supply problem,' said Hiroshi Ishii, a program-specific researcher of Kyoto University's Center for Southeast Asian Studies who participated in the marine survey. The OET had another success in 2023 when it took photos of wrecks of the Akagi, an aircraft carrier that was sunk in the Battle of Midway in 1942. 'People can understand the reality of war by seeing photos of sunken ships and other evidence, and [finds like this] can help console the souls of soldiers who died,' said Kotaro Yamafune, a visiting professor of Kyoto Tachibana University who studies shipwreck archaeology. Kazushige Todaka, director of the Yamato Museum in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, said: 'The Teruzuki was one of the rare destroyers that were designed for anti-aircraft warfare. The original shape is still in excellent condition, and considering the appearance of the gun turrets, there's no doubt it's the Teruzuki.'
The Mainichi
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
10 mil. yen raised via crowdfunding in 3 days to relocate WWII Japan fighter
MATSUYAMA -- In just three days, 10 million yen (about $67,000) was raised through a crowdfunding campaign to relocate a rare "Shiden-Kai" fighter plane of the former Imperial Japanese Navy in Ehime Prefecture. The plane housed at the Shiden-Kai Museum in the Ehime Prefecture city of Ainan is the only existing Shiden-Kai fighter in Japan, but the exhibition facility is deteriorating. To pay for the plane's relocation, the Ehime Prefectural Government launched a hometown tax-type crowdfunding campaign, which reached its initial target of 10 million yen in just three days. The crowdfunding drive was a "hometown tax" type. Under Japan's hometown tax system, people can get a deduction from their resident taxes for donating funds to a municipality of their choice. The funds in the Ehime case will be used to relocate the aircraft, a war heritage property, without placing any strain on it. As of 11 a.m. on July 18, donations had exceeded 23 million yen (around $155,000), moving closer to the final goal of 38 million yen (approx. $256,000). A prefectural official expressed surprise, stating, "We didn't expect to get so close so quickly." On July 25, the Shiden-Kai is set to receive "important aviation heritage" designation for the first time in west Japan's Chugoku and Shikoku regions, acknowledging its historical and cultural significance. The Shiden-Kai was a state-of-the-art fighter plane introduced in earnest by the former Imperial Japanese Navy during the late stages of the Pacific War, when the country's defeat was imminent. It was deployed to an air unit at the former Matsuyama naval air base in Ehime Prefecture for the defense of mainland Japan. Although approximately 400 Shiden-Kai planes were produced, only four remain today, with just one located in Japan. This particular aircraft was discovered in 1978 in the town of Ainan, Ehime Prefecture. It is believed to have crash-landed in Kura Bay after an aerial battle with U.S. aircraft on July 24, 1945, and was found submerged at a depth of 41 meters by a local diver. When the prefectural government salvaged it in July 1979, all four of its propeller blades were bent, but the aircraft was reportedly largely intact. To preserve it as a legacy of the devastation of war, the prefecture restored the plane and built an exhibition hall in Ainan, opening it to the public in 1980. However, nearly half a century later, the facility has deteriorated. In fiscal 2023 plans were made to rebuild the facility on an adjacent site. While aiming for the facility's completion in fiscal 2026, an assessment of the aircraft revealed that the relocation would require reinforcement and careful transport using a specialized platform. Due to rising material costs, the total project budget swelled to approximately 970 million yen (about $6.53 million), with 48 million yen (around $323,000) allocated for the plane's relocation. This led to a call for donations to cover part of the relocation expenses. Given the high fundraising target, the prefectural government set two stages in the crowdfunding campaign: an initial target of 10 million yen and a final target of 38 million yen. With rewards like Shiden-Kai model replicas and pin badges, the campaign began on July 1. Although it was thought it would take some time, the initial target was achieved on July 3. A prefectural official speculated that attention increased due to the 80th anniversary of World War II's end. Any funds exceeding the final target will be used to enhance the exhibition content. The "important aviation heritage" designation by the Tokyo-based Japan Aeronautic Association recognizes the aircraft for its advanced technology at the time of development and its existence today. It will be the 13th such designation in Japan, with a certificate set to be conferred on July 25 at the site. Ehime Gov. Tokihiro Nakamura stated, "The aircraft bears the painful history of war. I hope the recognition will encourage many people to visit the exhibition hall." The crowdfunding campaign is open until 11 p.m. on Sept. 5 on the Readyfor website. For inquiries, contact the Ehime Prefectural Government's urban development division at 089-912-2745 (in Japanese). (Japanese original by Akiko Hirose, Matsuyama Bureau)
