Description
Object description
Japanese officer served as quartermaster with 3rd Bn, 58th Infantry Regt, 31st Infantry Bde, 31st Infantry Div, Imperial Japanese Army in Burma and India, 1943-1945; served with 31st Mountain Artillery Regt, 31st Infantry Div, Imperial Japanese Army in Burma, 1945; prisoner of war in Burma, 1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Yokohama, Japan, 1919-1941: family; education; conflict between his own and father's political theories; nature of military training at school; reaction to outbreak of Second World War in the Far East and Pacific, 12/1941. Aspects of training as officer cadet with 149th Infantry Regt, 31st Infantry Div, Imperial Japanese Army in Japan, 1942: treatment of cadets by NCO; role of accounting officer; character of 31st Infantry Div. Aspects of voyage from from Japan to Burma via Singapore, Malaya, 1942-1943: nature of voyage.
REEL 2 Continues: threat from United States Navy submarines; reception by civilians in Burma; relaxation in Singapore. Recollections of operations as officer with 3rd Bn, 58th Infantry Regt, 31st Infantry Bde, 31st Infantry Div, Imperial Japanese Army in Burma and India, 1943-1945: reaction to finding out that food supplies would have to be captured from Allied forces; joining unit; trek through Burmese jungle from River Chindwin, Burma to Kohima. India; losses during Battle of Shangshak, India, 20/3/1944-26/3/1944; preparation of food for unit at Kohima, India.
REEL 3 Continues: work organising supplies at Kohima, India; avoiding Royal Air Force air attacks; capture of Allied rice stores; sicknesses afflicting Japanese troops at Kohima, India; conditions on trek back to River Chindwin, Burma; recuperation after Operation U-Go; hospitality from Burmese villagers. Aspects of period as officer with 31st Mountain Artillery Regt, 31st Infantry Div, Imperial Japanese Army in Burma, 4/1945-8/1945: supply work; surrender announcement, 15/8/1945; refusal of some Japanese to surrender; determination that Japan should be rebuilt.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Burma, 1945: treatment on capture, 8/1945; prisoner of war life in south Burma; bartering for food with Burmese civilians. Reflections on service with Japanese Imperial Army, 1942-1945: question of presence of Koreans in Imperial Japanese Army; story of clash with imperialistic intelligence officer; recruitment system.