Do anyone know if there exist a database to visit for Japanese soldiers killed in action during WW2? My interest goes into that in October '45 they fought alongside the British/Indian in NEI and lost nearly as many men in that period. And as I plan to widen my homepage into the British period. I will be interested in information on the Japanese too. Cheers TijgerB
Hello TigerB, I spoke to a Japanese History teacher at the school where I work, and she looked into your above query. She said that there is no online database or website where you can get that sort of Information, and such databases as exist are held by the "Ministry of Health, Labour & Welfare". I am not sure exactly what she meant by this, but presume she was saying you would need to contact them directly. This is probably not much help to you, but thought I would try and find out what I could. Incidentally, you probably know that the Yasukuni Shrine has the names of all of those killed in conflicts since 1858. How those names are organised and whether they would be able to furnish you with names from the period around October '45, I am not yet sure at this stage. If I hear anything more I will post. Regards, Chris
Hello Chris, Thank you for the info which leave me with the hope that it is possible to get the information in the end if I am just patient enough. Thanks TijgerB
Hi Chris, This is interesting information. I wonder if the Japanese will ever feel it possible to provide this information openly on a database. I'm thinking that they might feel it is a 'no-win' sort of thing for them to do. They did recently hand back several thousand POW index cards to the Australians, so you never know. Thanks for your input on this topic. Steve
Hello Steve, I was wondering similar things. One possibility is that the teacher may be wrong and that there is some form of info you can get over the internet. Though I can well imagine that she is right, I will keep an eye out. On the Yasukuni website it talks about how you must get special permission to photograph the names of those who died. I think they are saying that the names themselves are somehow, in their eyes, 'sacred'. As such I wonder if this is part of why the ministry has also not put them on the internet. But more likely, as you wonder, I think it is also perhaps a 'no-win' thing for them. I just wonder how family members would find out information about relatives who died. Must be a long winded process. Makes me realise what a fantastic thing the CWGC is! Cheers, Chris
