On Sunday morning we drove to Miyata and made our way to the local mining museum where we met the director Mr. Enokida and his assistant Mr. Okamoto. They had invited two former mine workers to tell us firsthand about the mine and the POWs. After some discussion and study in the museum office we made our way to the sight of the former POW camp and what a surprise I got.
The camp at Miyata had been occupied after the war by miners and their families right up until 1984. In 1985 the buildings were all torn down and the land cleared but one of the men’s daughters had taken photos of the camp and it had changed little since the photos of it we had from 1945. Even today the roads and hill are easily recognized from the old days.

It was so wonderful to be able to walk in the very places where the POWs walked and it was especially meaningful for Sandra to be in the place where her father was those many years ago.

Sandra Humphrey places a poppy cross in remembrance of her father and the other Miyata POWs.

Following our very successful weekend we bid goodbye to Bert and Mr. Hirano and thanked them for their friendship and help.
We certainly couldn’t have accomplished all that we wanted without their knowledge, dedication and help. We returned to Fukuoka by train and had the pleasure of meeting Koshi Kobayashi at the hotel later in the evening. We had a wonderful time together – he is truly a remarkable man.

The following day we set off to visit the Senryu # 24 POW Camp at Emukae – another place where some of the former Taiwan POWs were sent in March 1945. We were met at the station by Mr. Akihiro Shizuma and Ms. Yoko Sonoda who kindly showed us the area. We visited the site of the old entrance to the mine and the previous POW burial ground before moving on to the site of the former camp.

With friends in remembrance of the Senryu POWs

The site of the former camp is now occupied by new buildings and a kindergarten, but the surrounding area and hills are unchanged from those many years ago. I was able to do some survey work and plot the location and area of the former camp to fix it permanently in the records.
After our brief time in Emukae we took the train back to Sasebo and then another down to Nagasaki where we spent the night at a Ryokan or Japanese Inn and sampling some of the local lifestyle which we thoroughly enjoyed.
All of the next day was spent visiting the sites of the atomic bombing in the city and several other historic sites as well. It was sobering to view the exhibits and see the destruction left by such an awesome weapon. Never again!
On March 10th we visited the old port city of Moji on the north end of the island. It was here where most of the hellships docked bringing POWs to Japan. The wharves at the harbour have changed little since those times, but the rest of the area has been made over into a modern tourist venue.

This trip was a wonderful experience and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to visit these former POW sites. It certainly helps to complete the story of the Taiwan POWs.