Forums · Jap WW 2 soldiers found in the Philippines. O.O
[quote]MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Japanese government was skeptical on Friday of claims that Japanese soldiers from the Second World War were still hiding out in the Philippine jungle on the island of Mindanao.
Japanese media reports spoke of up to 40 leftover soldiers in the mountainous area of Columbio in Mindanao.
Two embassy officials were at a hotel in the city of General Santos to try to meet two of the men, named in reports as Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, from Osaka, and Tsuzuki Nakauchi, 85.
However, a Japanese Embassy official said the government was increasingly doubtful about the stories. A mediator who had promised to present the two men to the Japanese has not been heard from since Thursday.
An official from the health ministry, the department investigating the claims, said: "Since we haven't actually spoken to them, we can't verify who they are."
"We can't confirm the possibility [the men exist] but we can't categorically deny it either," he added.
The two men had reportedly told a Japanese national, who was on the island collecting the remains of dead Japanese soldiers, that they were Japanese and wanted to return to their homeland.
Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had said that if their claims were true, the government would try to repatriate them.
"If they are alive, we'd like to fulfill their wishes," Koizumi said. "If this is true, it's quite a surprise. They've really done well to stay alive this long." The last time a Japanese army straggler was discovered was in 1975 in Indonesia.
A former imperial Japanese army intelligence officer, Hiru Onoda, was found living in the jungle on the Philippine island of Lubang in 1974. He did not know Japan had surrendered 29 years earlier.
Theoretically, Second World War stragglers could be court martialed in Japan for desertion. [/quote]
thats from a local newpaper..
Japanese media reports spoke of up to 40 leftover soldiers in the mountainous area of Columbio in Mindanao.
Two embassy officials were at a hotel in the city of General Santos to try to meet two of the men, named in reports as Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, from Osaka, and Tsuzuki Nakauchi, 85.
However, a Japanese Embassy official said the government was increasingly doubtful about the stories. A mediator who had promised to present the two men to the Japanese has not been heard from since Thursday.
An official from the health ministry, the department investigating the claims, said: "Since we haven't actually spoken to them, we can't verify who they are."
"We can't confirm the possibility [the men exist] but we can't categorically deny it either," he added.
The two men had reportedly told a Japanese national, who was on the island collecting the remains of dead Japanese soldiers, that they were Japanese and wanted to return to their homeland.
Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had said that if their claims were true, the government would try to repatriate them.
"If they are alive, we'd like to fulfill their wishes," Koizumi said. "If this is true, it's quite a surprise. They've really done well to stay alive this long." The last time a Japanese army straggler was discovered was in 1975 in Indonesia.
A former imperial Japanese army intelligence officer, Hiru Onoda, was found living in the jungle on the Philippine island of Lubang in 1974. He did not know Japan had surrendered 29 years earlier.
Theoretically, Second World War stragglers could be court martialed in Japan for desertion. [/quote]
thats from a local newpaper..
well, it could be that the founder was lucky enough to do so. or they were caught due to extreme stupidity. you never know :/
you cant really blame them if they waned to be found. If this is true, i hope they dont get some punishment from court martial...theyre too old anywayz.
you cant really blame them if they waned to be found. If this is true, i hope they dont get some punishment from court martial...theyre too old anywayz.
You know, back in the 1980s or 70s, a lone Japanese WW2 soldier was 'recovered' in Vietnam. It was very interesting, because that lone soldier was still doing assasination missions he was set out to do because he believed the war was still raging. He survived in the wild for all those years avoiding the Vietnamese army. Sort of like a real time Rambo, don't you think?