Soldier's nephew in Japan receives second WWII souvenir flag

It was a kind gesture, repeated, to return both flags to the family.

73 years too late. Why did the US soldiers take personal items of killed Japanese soldier?

Ganbare Japan - unfortunately rape and looting are among the worst aspects of humanity, and the environment that war creates makes them more likely to happen. Japanese soldiers were no exception.

73 years too late. Why did the US soldiers take personal items of killed Japanese soldier?

Because war is organized insanity. Pray it never happens again.

73 years too late. Why did the US soldiers take personal items of killed Japanese soldier?

Because he was dead. The soldier probably didn't think anyone would miss the flag. War trophies are a common thing in war time and were probably collected by all sides.

It's good to see US veterans organizations who are willing to let the past be the past and reach out to a former enemy but current close ally in this way. All props to those vet leaders responsible!

WWII is long over between the United States and Japan. It's also over between the ROC (Taiwan), UK and AUS and even Russia to a great extent. Only two countries remain unwilling to let it go - PRC which did not even exist until 4 years after WWII ended, and South Korea which was part of Japan until WWII ended. There is more WWII hate on this JT board from people who did not experience it. than from those who did. Doesn't take rocket science to figure who may be behind it all. Hats off to the veterans and vertans groups who are putting the past to rest.

The obon society has repatriated lots of flags over the years, they do a fantastic service, as you can see via youtube, I am currently have a hinomaru my self and believe me its hard as the Japanese data protection laws are quite strict, and hopefully it will go back to its rightful owners, If any one has a few dollars to spare the Obon society has a web site where you can donate, these guys do it voluntary so all of the flights and research comes from there pockets, http://obonsociety.org/contact-us/

Nice story. Always heartwarming to read about a family being reunited with a treasured ancestral item.

I'm sure Japanese soldiers did their share of collecting wartime souvenirs wherever they were, i.e., China, Philippines, Corrigidor, Indonesia, Saipan, Okinawa as well as confiscating items from POWs. Did the surviving Japanese soldiers or their descendents ever return such items to their original owners? You never hear about these things.

The media gives the impression that only Americans indulge in this peculiar wartime practice.