YOMIURI: SAKHALIN JAPANESE MARK 25 YRS OF RENEWES TIES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06827541
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2021
• Case Number: F-2019-01989
• Publication Date: July 12, 2017

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COUNTRY: JAPAN, RUSSIA, UNITED STATES
SUBJ: (U) YOMIURI : SAKHALIN JAPANESE MARK 25 YRS OF RENEWED TIES
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SOURCE: TOKYO THE JAPAN NEWS IN ENGLISH 1900 GMT
20 OCT 15 (U)
TEXT:
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PAGE: HTTP://THE-JAPAN-NEWS.COM/NEWS/ARTICLE/0002479292)
TITLE: SAKHALIN JAPANESE MARK 25 YRS OF RENEWED TIES
SECTION: SOCIETY
AUTHOR: The Yomiuri Shimbun
PUBDATE: 4:00 am, October 21, 2015
(YOMIURI) - The Yomiuri Shimbun
This year, those involved with efforts to facilitate temporary
return
trips for the Japanese who remained in Sakhalin (Karafuto), Russia,
after the war marked the 25th anniversary of their endeavors. About
1,200 people in total, including the children of those left behind,
have visited Japan. The effort has provided means for families
split
apart during the period of confusion following the war to reunite.
Their supporters have said they want to continue as long as there
are
still people who have an emotional connection to Japan.
Sisters reunite
"I'm so happy we could see each other this year, too." In a hotel
in
Sapporo where a party for those visiting Japan was held, Reiko
Seki,
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67, who lives in Sakhalin, clinked glasses of juice with her sister
Svetlana, 54, who lives in Sapporo.
The sisters were born in Sakhalin after the war. They lived in a
remote location far from any urban center, so their parents never
heard that Japan was pulling out from the region. Both parents died
without returning to Japan.
The sisters both married local men. However, Svetlana "strongly
felt"
her Japanese identity and moved to Japan in 2012 as a permanent
resident when her children moved away from home. Her sister Reiko
continues to live in Sakhalin to stay with her four children.
The Japanese government covers travel and accommodation expenses
for
trips to Japan. "I can't afford to go to Japan on my own. This
program is vital for us sisters," said Reiko, who live-s on a
pension.
Govt moved to action
The project started when journalist Yoichi Ogawa, who is now 84,
made
a goodwill visit to Sakhalin in 1988. During his visit, he met a
Japanese person there who told him, "I wanted to see my mother who
lives in Japan." Learning of the many Japanese who were stuck in
Sakhalin, he started Karafuto Douhou Ichijikikoku Sokushin no Kai
(the association for the advancement of the temporary return of
compatriots in Sakhalin).
At that time, the undertaking was not well received by the Health,
Labor and Welfare Ministry, which described those in Sakhalin as
"people who stayed on their own volition." However, Ogawa, among
others, revealed that the ministry had created a "list of
unrepatriated people" of the 175 Japanese still in Sakhalin in
1984.
The ministry noted in the list that 70 percent of those people
wanted
to return to Japan.
The association started its efforts as the Soviet Union began its
perestroika reforms. In May 1990, 12 people were able to make trips
to Japan.
Currently, the effort is led by a nonprofit organization called the
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Japan-Sakhalin Association, with the consent of the Health, Labor
and
Welfare Ministry. The effort is targeted toward Japanese who have
been living in Karafuto since before the war, or children born to
Japanese parents after the war. People can participate every year,
and this year 36 people came, some with their children, enjoying
sightseeing and time with relatives.
Around 300 people have permanently moved back to Japan with the
support of the association as well.
"Many Japanese have been able to redeem their pride as Japanese
through their temporary trips back to Japan. Although the number of
participants has been declining in recent years, it is a rare
opportunity for second and third generations to understand the
cultures of Japan and Russia. The government should consider them
as
well," said Hiromi Saito, chairman of the association.
1,500 Japanese left behind
Southern Sakhalin came under Japanese rule in 1905. According to
Taisho Nakayama, an assistant professor of modern history at Kyoto
University, 400,000 Japanese lived there before the war.
On Aug. 9, 1945, the Soviet Union abruptly began to wage war
against
Japan and their forces crossed the 50th parallel of latitude, the
border at the time, taking control of all of Karafuto.
Due to the emergency evacuation following the Soviet invasion and
Japanese retreat in 1946, most residents returned to Japan,
although
a treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union prevented
Japanese women who had married Korean men from doing so.
Additionally, the Soviet Union, hungry for labor, held on to
engineers and other skilled workers. This led to around 1,500
people
being left behind.
Following the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration of 1956, people
started
returning to Japan. However, at the time people could not freely
move
between Sakhalin and Japan, so some chose to stay because they did
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a.
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not wish to part with family members. [Description of Source: Tokyo
The Japan News in English -- Website of daily published by
center-right Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest daily; launched in
March 2013 as a replacement to The Daily Yomiuri Online; URL:
http://the-japan-news.com/]
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