Detention in Ukraine The thoughts of former Japanese soldiers "War must never be done" April 5, 17:09

Some people have been hurt by the combination of their own experiences with Russia's military invasion of Ukraine.

"The locals aren't bad at all. They lost their loved ones in the war, were deeply hurt, and hated the war," said

a 97-year-old man from Kagoshima prefecture.

Shortly before the end of World War II, he was taken prisoner of the Soviet army and transferred to Ukraine, where he spent days next to death.

It's been over 70 years since then.

In Ukraine, fighting continues in various parts of the country, and many citizens are evacuating abroad.

We talked about what they think of the repeated tragedy of war.

(Kagoshima Broadcasting Station reporter Nao Nishizaki)

Revived memory

Seiji Ikeda, 97, of Kagoshima City, says that every time Ukrainian news is broadcast on TV, his experience of war is revived.

Seiji Ikeda

"I don't feel sorry for Ukrainians. I've always heard that I'm doing Ukrainian things on TV every day. I remember those days every day."

Days next to the death of Soviet prisoners of war

Before the war, Mr. Ikeda was convened by the Kwantung Army after moving to Manchuria.

Immediately before the end of the war, he was taken prisoner of the Soviet army in what is now North Korea.

At the camp, he said he witnessed his companions being slaughtered one after another.

Seiji Ikeda

"If you resist without listening to what you say, you can do it with a gun (with a gun). You plunder everything you want. If you sleep on your wristwatch, try to pluck it."

After that, Mr. Ikeda was forced to move from one camp to another.

The final destination of the freight train was Ukraine, about 7,500 kilometers away from my hometown Kagoshima.

Seiji Ikeda

"I was packed in a freight car and kept riding the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way to the west for about 40 days, and I arrived in the east of Ukraine. The stone wall broke and it was terrible. "

Ukrainian detainees support the kindness of people to live

At that time, a Ukrainian town destroyed in the war with the German army.

Mr. Ikeda was engaged in the reconstruction of towns and factories.

It is said that the kindness of the local people, who were also hurt by the war, helped them to live in the midst of being forced to work hard while suffering from the cold and hunger.

Seiji Ikeda

"Ukrainians work together, so I'm getting along well. Ukrainians, especially aunts, were kind.

" Yaponshamama, Yesichi? (Do you have a mother?) "

" Daddy, Yesichi? (Do you have a dad?) "

" Zuda Robui? (How are you?) "

, And he encourages me to say," Scola, Damoy (go back to Japan soon). "

War again “War must never be done”

It's been over 70 years since then.

In Ukraine, indiscriminate attacks by Russian troops continue to increase civilian casualties.

Ukrainian people fleeing the war and being chased from their homeland.

Mr. Ikeda hopes that peace will return as soon as possible by superimposing his own experience of war on such a figure.

Seiji Ikeda

"I sincerely hope that Ukrainians can live in peace. Anyway, I don't like war, don't go to war, that's all. I'll be 100 years old in three years, but this is how I am. You can't be so happy walking with your feet, talking with your own mouth, eating and sleeping. This is a real human life, and you should never go to war. "

“The locals are not bad”

Late last month, Mr. Ikeda sent a letter to the Ukrainian embassy in Tokyo, along with his detention experience, spelling out solidarity with Ukraine.

Although they are limited in what they can do in Kagoshima, they insisted that war should never be forgiven.

Although Mr. Ikeda still has fears and mixed feelings about Soviet soldiers, he said, "The local people are not bad at all. The local people also lost their loved ones in the war, were deeply hurt, and hated the war. In a difficult life, the kindness of the Ukrainian people became more apparent. "

I always thought that the people of Ichii would be at the mercy of the nation and would be the victims of war.

I would like to continue the interview, hoping that showing solidarity will put an end to the current situation as much as possible.

Kagoshima Broadcasting Station Reporter

Nao Nishizaki

Joined in 2019 After being in charge of police coverage at the Kagoshima Station, he is now the Satsumasendai branch office.

She is also in charge of international news and investigative journalism.