Re:THE POSTHUMOUS WRITINGS OF MY FATHER-IN-LAW---recollection from the end of World War II to 1953

<Part 2>

Though the Soviet officers were quite strict on us in the factories, they became friendly and favorable toward us when we made reports on progress on the day at the end of the day meetings in the main building.

After finishing over reports to them, we had Russian supper and got home around nine oclock, thoroughly exhausted with no more strength left. Leaving home at six in the morning, we worked on the job day after day until the end of September.

Every once in a while, Soviet soldiers came to our factories during work. Some f them wore pieces of cloth on their feet instead of socks. Some looked pleased to wear several watches on the same arm, which had been taken from the Japanese. I was surprised to see them and shocked by the fact that we were defeated by such a poor nation as this.

There was a rumor that Japanese soldiers were going to be taken to the Soviet or somewhere else after the dismantlement operation was completed. The Japanese forces were gathered into different camps according to their units. But some of them deserted from their fellow troops, running into the deep mountains of Senzan, some fled into private Japanese houses and others started to live together in groups in hiding places.

One day a soldier from the same homeland as me escaped his camp and visited my house with his friend. I have heard of no one else who gave shelter to the deserted soldiers.

Three days later, Mr. M. from the same homeland, whose parents were blind, visited me bringing two of his friends asking for a hide-out. I was sorry for them but it was impossible to accept any one other than the two deserters I already had at home. I offered dinner to them and took them back to their camp. When we got to their unit, the entire groups were just about to leave for somewhere, gathering on the road across from Fuji elementary school.
I heard later that they were taken to the Soviet Union. Thinking about his blind parents, I regretted not having accepted them.

In 1947 when my wife and children went back to Japan without me, I learned that Mr. M. had fortunately gotten back to his home in Japan about a week before. I was greatly relieved to hear that.

by Anmitsuhime

To be continued to Part 3