Saitama City Mayor Koji Yamada attended a memorial service today,โค September 1, 2024, for the victims of the โข1945 Korean massacre in Saitama Prefecture, reflecting on the enduring pain etched on the โฃface of a grandmother present at the ceremony. The service, held โฃat a memorial hall in Urawa ward, โขcommemorated the 86 Koreans and 16 Japanese who perished during the incident, stemming from misunderstandings and โanxieties following JapanS surrender in Worldโฃ War II.
The memorial service gains renewed significance amid ongoing efforts to uncover the full truth of the massacreโค and address the lingering trauma experienced by descendants of the victims. Yamada’s observation of the grandmother’s โexpression – a visible manifestation of “terrifying things” witnessed – underscores the intergenerational impact of the tragedy and the importance of โcontinued remembrance and reconciliation. The Asahi Shimbun reported on the mayor’s โคreflections and the solemn โatmosphere of the event.
The massacre โoccurred on September 22, 1945, just weeks afterโฃ Japan’s formal surrender.Fueled by rumors of a Korean uprising, local โresidents and members of the Saitama Prefectural Police โฃattacked Korean residents and laborers โin several locations within the prefecture. Investigations in the years following revealed widespread abuse andโ killings.
during the service, Yamada expressed his commitment to learning from the past and preventing similar โคtragedies fromโค occurring again. He acknowledged the deep wounds inflicted by the massacre and pledged to continue supporting efforts to preserve โthe memory of the victims and promote understanding โbetween Japan and Korea. The mayor’s โฃattendance and remarks represent a continued effortโ by Saitama โPrefecture โฃto confront its historical responsibility for the events ofโ 1945.