This is a story of Kenneth Udstad, a World War II veteran.
I came in contact with Kenny as part of an effort to reach out to as many World War II veterans in the United States as I can, before it’s too late for them and for me. In my two-minute video, www.ThankYouVeterans.net, I express gratitude from my parents’ generation of Japanese to America. More specifically, American WWII veterans are the very people to whom such gratitude is expressed.
Kenny told me about a flag that he kept all these years as a souvenir from a dead Japanese soldier in Tinian. (Tinian is one of Mariana Islands, located southwest of Saipan. Today, it is a U.S. territory.) In recent years, he has made it his mission to return the flag to its rightful owner’s family.
In December 2013, he was invited by the Honorable Heita Kawakatsu, the Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, to be able to do just that – except the rightful owner’s family is yet to be located. Nonetheless, Kenny is satisfied that the flag is much closer to where it belongs. Way to go, Kenny!
According to the NHK news report from December 6, 2013, Tago Mura (Tago Village), the location from which this particular flag originated, is affiliated with today’s Nishi Izu-cho. The flag will be on display at Shizuoka-ken Gokoku Jinja (Shizuoka Prefecture Shrine for the War Dead), which is akin to a War Memorial in the U.S. Shizuoka Prefecture will continue the search for the rightful owner’s family until located.
During WWII, every Japanese soldier, who was drafted to go to war, was given a Japanese flag. On it, loved ones, friends, and neighbors signed their names, sometimes including words of encouragement. These hand-written notes, collectively, are called yose-gaki. Each soldier carried the flag beneath his clothing wherever he went.
I learned that, when the war ended, these flags often became souvenirs for Allied soldiers. From Kenny, I also learned about an organization called, Obon-2015. This group is facilitating the return of many of these flags to the rightful owners’ families – just as it is doing for Kenny via social media. Here is a set of photographs that Obon-2015 posted about the flag that Kenny had returned. All in all, this flag has over 52 signatures. The thought is that someone out there has to recognize one or more of the names/signatures.
Leading up to the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII in 2015, there is a major push to encourage as many of those who hold them in their possession to return them to the surviving families as possible.
The organizers of Obon-2015 are dismayed that many of these flags are being sold on eBay for profit as collectors’ items – some of them even out of Japan to other countries, unfortunately.
If you come across a very old Japanese flag with writings on them, chances are it will help bring closure to the dead soldier’s family. You may wish to contact Obon-2015. Unlike the link through Facebook (in the earlier paragraph), this link takes you directly to the English-language section of the website. At the bottom of that screen is a contact information, which is repeated here as well: contact@OBON2015.com
Obon is a Japanese custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors – regardless of when or how they died. During WWII, 2.12 million Japanese soldiers perished in the name of the emperor. Obon-2015, therefore, is a fitting name for an event commemorating the upcoming 70th anniversary of the end of WWII on August 15, 2015.
This is a forewarning – as you click on the next hyperlink, there may be a 30-second advertisement preceding the actual video. The NHK newscast about Kenny’s visit in Shizuoka is in Japanese but, of course, you can listen to him speak in English during a press conference.
Lastly but not least, on behalf of the Japanese family that is yet to be located, I take the liberty to thank you, Kenny, for doing the right thing. None of us human beings is blemish-free from our past. You inspire me – and perhaps many others who are reading your story – to do what is right for humanity.
May peace be with you always.
I have one of these soldier flags from my grandfather. This has inspired me to return it. I don’t know where to begin. I would be very greatful for any help.
Hello Reiko:
My name is Thayne Muller, and several years ago, in spring 2015, I stumbled upon your entry here regarding Japanese flags. I had one of these flags that my father had brought home from WWII, and was trying to find out more about the markings on it—it had been a mystery in our family for decades.
I followed your link to OBON 2015, and was amazed to learn the true nature of the flags. It moved me a great deal, and I immediately contacted Rex and Keiko to have the flag returned. However, I did not think such a reunion with the family was possible, as the flag had been damaged by fire—as it turned out, right on the name of the soldier. Nevertheless, I felt it was more appropriate to send it to OBON anyway.
To my astonishment, a few days ago, I got the news from OBON that the soldier’s family had been located! Rex wrote: “They live in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. The soldier’s name was Mr. Tsuneji Tsukeshiro. He apparently was a pilot who disappeared during the battle of the Philippines.” He said the family was also astonished and surprised at the find, and was looking forward to having the flag returned.
Here is the statement I have asked to be shared with the family: “The family of Eugene Thayne Muller would like to express its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to OBON SOCIETY for its work to reunite the flag of Tsuneji Tsukeshiro with his family. It is the hope of our family, that his family may find solace, and his spirit may find rest.”
Here is the OBON page: http://obon2015.com/id/2015-0907.html
I wanted to thank you for your role in the return of this flag. It was your post that provided the critical link—I don’t know if would have found out about OBON sooner. And I am sure the family of Tsukeshiro thanks you too.
TDM