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

＜Part 8＞


In December of that year, the entire area of Manchuria, came under the control of the Chinese Communists. We were ordered to get started on the restoration of the Anshan Iron Steel Corporation, going back to Anshan for the first time in ten months. At that time, the railway had been repaired and we took a train to the city.

Anshan appeared to be abandoned. Alongside the streets, we saw a lot of vacant houses which had been provided by our company to its employees. It was a dead city.

While the Japanese with families were settled down in the area in front of the former Japanese military camp, we lived in a dormitory building- originally for the unmarried employees, which was located at the rear of a temple. The restoration project had begun to take shape. The Chinese workers in our company were coming back to work, and the commercial avenues were getting livelier.

We went to work every day and proceeded on the restoration project. In those days, the company had only one bus for commuting employees. But it was offered only to the Japanese people, while the rest of the workers, ven the executives commuted by bicycle.

The company offices were poorly equipped, with few desks and chairs. On the other hand, all the people there shared the same gush of enthusiasm for the restoration of the company. Even though the Japanese were defeated as a nation, the Chinese people took good care of them, and never treated the Japanese as defeated people.

The head of the Chinese staff knew that the knowledge and skill of the Japanese was indispensable, and to achieve their goal, they made use of the Japanese a hundred percent. The Japanese people fully met their expectations.

I worked hard in the factories, giving instructions to the same Chinese workers who worked under me before the end of the war. Sometimes I yelled at them, and even complained to the head staff. But they never fought back. I greatly appreciated them.
I continued reconstructing the factories, making use of some capable workers. In July, after eight months labor, we proceeded to the final stage -starting the coke-ovens. It was to be a huge operation. A slight mistake could cause an explosion. I separated the workers into some groups and gave a different task to each. I trained them, having them repeat simulations over and over again.

The work of drying the coke-ovens was almost finished. Just before starting the operation, several Russian engineers came to see our factories. I thought they were going to take command of the work, and asked my boss, saying, I saw some Russian engineers coming here. I would like to know whether or not they are going to take command of this work. If they are, I will never tell them anything about how to do it. I will only observe. If thats not the situation, I dont want them to tell me anything. It is okay to observe my work. Id like you to decide. I will be all right with either way. I didnt get an immediate answer. The next morning I was told the job was to be done under my direction.

by Anmitsuhime

To be continued to Part 9