Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum, Memorial museum and public building in Maizuru, Japan
The Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum is a public building in the port city documenting the return of approximately 660,000 Japanese citizens between 1945 and 1958. The exhibits display documents, personal belongings, and accounts from people who came back from labor camps and internment sites in Siberia, Manchuria, and Korea.
After World War II, the port city became the arrival point for people returning from various war zones and occupied territories. The process of return and resettlement shaped the city and left marks that remain visible today.
The museum preserves personal belongings of returnees, including clothing, letters, and diaries that document their difficult journey home. These collections show the emotional and practical challenges people faced when starting over.
The building is located near the train station and is easy to reach, with plenty of free parking available for cars and buses. Visitors should allow enough time to carefully view the documents and exhibits while reading the many personal stories on display.
The museum also preserves the Shirakaba Diary, an important UNESCO Memory of the World document recording wartime experiences. These rare writings provide deep insight into personal thoughts during a difficult period.
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