Seventy-Decade Legacy Reveals Impact of Government Policies on Early Settlers of Manchuria
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Surviving the Tragedy of World War II: The Story of Hiroyoshi Takizawa
Hiroyoshi Takizawa, a 91-year-old resident of Nagano, Japan, experienced a harrowing ordeal during the Soviet Union's invasion of Manchuria in August 1945.
At the age of 8, Takizawa moved to Manchuria, northeastern China, as part of a Japanese pioneer group. His family, consisting of seven members, had left their home in Nagano Prefecture in March 1943, spurred by his father's ambition.
Life in eastern Manchuria was initially comfortable for the Takizawa family. However, everything changed on August 9, 1945, when the Soviet Union invaded Manchuria, violating its neutrality pact with Japan. The Imperial Japanese Army's Kwantung forces had already withdrawn, leaving civilians, including the Takizawas, to flee without a clear destination.
Faced with repeated attacks, Takizawa’s group fled southward for about three weeks. Fearing a Soviet assault after Japan announced its surrender on August 15, 1945, the group chose mass suicide on August 24. During this harrowing escape, Takizawa witnessed his father fatally shooting his younger brother and younger sister as part of the group’s suicide attempt. Takizawa survived but was deeply affected by the trauma.
Reflecting on the events, Takizawa said he and his family were victims of national policy, and he hoped such tragedies would never recur. The Koshago pioneer group, to which the Takizawas belonged, continued southward in the face of repeated attacks. On Aug. 24, 1945, nine days after Emperor Hirohito's radio broadcast announcing Japan's surrender, the Koshago pioneer group, fearing a Soviet assault, chose mass suicide.
The Soviet Union's invasion of Manchuria marked a tragic period in Hiroyoshi Takizawa's life, one that he carries with him to this day. His story serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of war and the importance of peace.
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