Editorial

15:00 JST, August 23, 2025

To prevent the mistakes of war from being repeated, it is important to preserve the records and memories of the tragedy. The suffering of Japanese people subjected to internment by the Soviet Union must not be forgotten.

On Aug. 23, a memorial service will be held at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Tokyo to honor those who were detained by the Soviet Union after Japan’s surrender and subsequently died. We once again would like to pray for their souls.

On Aug. 9, 1945, the Soviet Union went to war against Japan, and on Aug. 23 of that year, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin ordered the transfer of 500,000 Japanese from Manchuria, now northeastern China, and other regions to be used as labor forces.

In fact, about 575,000 people were moved to the Soviet Union........

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