Private war archive museums, established by individual war survivors to pass their memories of the Pacific War down to future generations, are disappearing across the country.
These museums tell visitors about the tragedy of the war through vivid testimonies and personal effects of the war dead. However, in many cases, the founders who personally experienced the war have passed away, and even the family members who took over the museums are getting older. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, efforts to preserve this tragedy are reaching a critical crossroads.
On Aug. 14, a private museum in Oita closed down. The museum had been opened by former kamikaze pilot Kiichi Kawano in his home and taken over by his son Takayasu, 68.
Kiichi survived due to the war ending just before he was supposed to go on a suicide mission. Takayasu said his father used to say he felt guilty about having survived: “I failed to die.”
Kiichi renovated his home and opened the museum on Aug. 14, 1988. It displayed more than 3,000 artifacts donated by their friends and bereaved family members including photos of deceased soldiers and farewell notes.
Not only did he not charge admission or accept subsidies from any organizations or government bodies but also offered incense sticks every morning and evening as a way to console their souls when visitors came around.
Kiichi died in 2021 at age 95 leaving Takayasu with difficulties managing such an extensive collection as he approaches his own seventies: “As I don’t have a successor I am last who knows my father’s feelings towards this museum,” said Takayasu.
The Atago History Archive Museum in Maebashi closed down in 2020 after being established by local residents’ association following suggestions from air raid survivors back in 2012 allowing visitors experience how people lived during that time period but operators gave up due aging residents showing visitors around it.
An archive museum dedicated air raids also closed down Okayama back in2017 after being run out man’s home since2000 containing thousands materials including documents collected US National Archives Records Administration records testimony those experienced air raids all materials were donated Okayama Prefectural Archives
According Ikuro Anzai professor emeritus peace studies Ritsumeikan University well-versed issues related preserving materials exhibitions held bodies across some reasons intensifying Cold War there being increasing number municipalities declaring themselves nuclear-free peace cities Subsequently various parts country
While some archive museums struggling survive others seen increase visitors Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum received more than750000visitors last fiscal year most22 years while over198 million people record number visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Naka Ward Hiroshima
Last fiscal year Osaka International Peace Center saw20%year-on-year increase its number visitors center attributes growth success special exhibition featuring kamikaze pilots held January March cooperation Chiran Peace Museum Kagoshima Prefecture