A memorial service has been held in Tokyo for people who died constructing the Thai-Burma Railway during World War Two.
About 50 people attended the service at Yasukuni Shrine on Sunday ahead of the 80th anniversary of the railroad.
The shrine preserves the C5631 steam locomotive that was used in the opening ceremony for the railroad in 1943. Participants observed a moment of silence at the sound of its whistle.
The now-defunct Imperial Japanese Army built the 414-kilometer railway as a supply route for the Battle of Imphal in India.
The army mobilized British and other allied prisoners of war as sources of labor. The railway was completed in just 15 months.
It is sometimes referred to as the "Death Railway" because more than 11,000 POWs are said to have died from harsh working conditions and infections.
The railroad is also known as the setting for the Hollywood movie, "The Bridge on the River Kwai."
A member of the locomotive preservation group that organized the service, Oda Kenji, says he hopes the event will help people to remember the hardships experienced by the POWs and other workers.
After the war, Thailand's national railway took over a 130-kilometer section of the line. Tourist trains attract visitors from around the world.
About 50 people attended the service at Yasukuni Shrine on Sunday ahead of the 80th anniversary of the railroad.
The shrine preserves the C5631 steam locomotive that was used in the opening ceremony for the railroad in 1943. Participants observed a moment of silence at the sound of its whistle.
The now-defunct Imperial Japanese Army built the 414-kilometer railway as a supply route for the Battle of Imphal in India.
The army mobilized British and other allied prisoners of war as sources of labor. The railway was completed in just 15 months.
It is sometimes referred to as the "Death Railway" because more than 11,000 POWs are said to have died from harsh working conditions and infections.
The railroad is also known as the setting for the Hollywood movie, "The Bridge on the River Kwai."
A member of the locomotive preservation group that organized the service, Oda Kenji, says he hopes the event will help people to remember the hardships experienced by the POWs and other workers.
After the war, Thailand's national railway took over a 130-kilometer section of the line. Tourist trains attract visitors from around the world.
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Summary
Memorial service held at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo for Thai-Burma Railway construction victims during WWII. The steam locomotive C5631, used in the railway's opening ceremony, was honored. The railway, known as the "Death Railway," was built by the Imperial Japanese Army in 14 months using POW
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ID: 184778f7-70aa-4c96-b6ba-7a1da54fa520
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231022_15/
Date: Oct. 22, 2023
Created: 2023/10/23 07:50
Updated: 2025/12/08 22:18
Last Read: 2023/10/23 20:16