Kiwa Mine, Mie. 1944.5-1945.8, 300 British POW were brought to work in the mine. 16 died during their time here for which the local community built a memorial. 84 year old Mr Saraie remembers friendly exchanges with some of the men sometimes giving or receiving wild berries and nuts sneaking through the guards controlling the camp. He recalls Aug 15 was a quiet day, no riot or abuse from the soldiers who became free, who then left the camp a few weeks later. After a month or so, he saw a plane fly over the town, which he thought the men were farewelling those who couldn’t come home with them. Mr Saraie and a few volunteers still attend the memorial site holding ceremonies regularly. He said his older sister died in Manchuria, in a foreign land like these men. Commemorating these peoples lives, and keeping these memories, he believes, is his responsibility as someone who met these men even though he never knew their names or backgrounds.
