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The Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum: Sharing the Memory of Siberian Internment

  • The Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum, refurbished in 2015. (© Nippon.com)

    The Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum, refurbished in 2015. (© Nippon.com)

  • The photo at the entrance to the permanent exhibit, showing crowds waiting on the pier for the repatriated citizens, packs an emotional punch. (© Nippon.com)

    The photo at the entrance to the permanent exhibit, showing crowds waiting on the pier for the repatriated citizens, packs an emotional punch. (© Nippon.com)

  • A photo panel displays the welcoming gestures by the citizens of Maizuru, who served tea and provided light entertainment for returnees. (© Nippon.com)

    A photo panel displays the welcoming gestures by the citizens of Maizuru, who served tea and provided light entertainment for returnees. (© Nippon.com)

  • Spoons and chopsticks crafted by the detainees. Painstakingly made, they helped take detainees’ minds off their meager food rations. (© Nippon.com)

    Spoons and chopsticks crafted by the detainees. Painstakingly made, they helped take detainees’ minds off their meager food rations. (© Nippon.com)

  • The view of Maizuru Bay from Mount Gorōgatake. On the Nishi-Maizuru side, the opening to the bay is narrow. Higashi-Maizuru, further inside the bay, commands a key position. (© Nippon.com)

    The view of Maizuru Bay from Mount Gorōgatake. On the Nishi-Maizuru side, the opening to the bay is narrow. Higashi-Maizuru, further inside the bay, commands a key position. (© Nippon.com)

  • Several models of repatriation ships are on display. Over a 13-year period, these ships docked at Maizuru a total of 346 times. (© Nippon.com)

    Several models of repatriation ships are on display. Over a 13-year period, these ships docked at Maizuru a total of 346 times. (© Nippon.com)

  • A model of a labor camp, with guard towers at the four corners. Some detainees, unable to withstand the harsh conditions, intentionally approached the towers so as to be shot to death. (© Nippon.com)

    A model of a labor camp, with guard towers at the four corners. Some detainees, unable to withstand the harsh conditions, intentionally approached the towers so as to be shot to death. (© Nippon.com)

  • A meal scene at a labor camp. To prevent disputes, bread was cut into equal portions after being weighed on a handmade scale. (© Nippon.com)

    A meal scene at a labor camp. To prevent disputes, bread was cut into equal portions after being weighed on a handmade scale. (© Nippon.com)

  • The Shirakaba nisshi exhibit. (© Nippon.com)

    The Shirakaba nisshi exhibit. (© Nippon.com)

  • Improvised writing implements were used to record the detainees’ thoughts. The writing on the bark remains sharp even 80 years later. (© Nippon.com)

    Improvised writing implements were used to record the detainees’ thoughts. The writing on the bark remains sharp even 80 years later. (© Nippon.com)

  • Lists of names and other information on those who died in the labor camps form part of the documents in the Memory of the World International Register. (© Nippon.com)

    Lists of names and other information on those who died in the labor camps form part of the documents in the Memory of the World International Register. (© Nippon.com)

  • Wooden mahjong tiles were crafted to fit perfectly in their boxes. (© Nippon.com)

    Wooden mahjong tiles were crafted to fit perfectly in their boxes. (© Nippon.com)

  • Many visitors make their way to the reconstructed Taira Repatriation Pier. (© Nippon.com)

    Many visitors make their way to the reconstructed Taira Repatriation Pier. (© Nippon.com)

  • The Maizuru World Brick Museum houses cafés, a museum shop, and a boarding pier for sightseeing tour boats. (© Nippon.com)

    The Maizuru World Brick Museum houses cafés, a museum shop, and a boarding pier for sightseeing tour boats. (© Nippon.com)

  • Aegis warships photographed from a sightseeing tour boat. Maizuru is today Japan’s only naval base serving as a port for both the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Japan Coast Guard. (© Nippon.com)

    Aegis warships photographed from a sightseeing tour boat. Maizuru is today Japan’s only naval base serving as a port for both the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Japan Coast Guard. (© Nippon.com)

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