Exhibition/event has ended.
Entertainment Under Extreme Conditions: Recreation and Cultural Activities of Siberian Internment Prisoners
Memorial Museum for Soldiers, Detainees in Siberia, and Postwar Repatriates
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In the summer of 1945, the prolonged war came to an end. Finally, the time for Japanese soldiers who had been fighting against the Soviet Army to return home arrived. Believing the Soviet soldiers who said "Tokyo, Damoi" (Send you back to Tokyo), they arrived not in Japan, but in Siberia. There, they faced harsh forced labor, severe cold, and chronic hunger. To survive in Siberian labor camps, it was essential not only to maintain physical strength but also to never lose the strong will and hope to return home alive. What comforted and encouraged their hearts in such extreme conditions was none other than entertainment and cultural activities.
The recreation and cultural activities of the internees were incredibly diverse. Those skilled in handcrafting made mahjong tiles and shogi pieces, while those who enjoyed haiku poetry organized poetry gatherings with their fellow detainees. When talented individuals gathered, theater troupes were formed. Despite their exhaustion, they continued to practice, finding modest joy and delivering music and theater to uplift their compatriots.
This exhibition showcases handmade recreational items, musical instruments used by theater troupes, and paintings created during internment, offering a glimpse into the cultural activities of the internees. Please explore the various forms of "entertainment" that continued to kindle hope for survival among the internees in the despair of the labor camps.
The recreation and cultural activities of the internees were incredibly diverse. Those skilled in handcrafting made mahjong tiles and shogi pieces, while those who enjoyed haiku poetry organized poetry gatherings with their fellow detainees. When talented individuals gathered, theater troupes were formed. Despite their exhaustion, they continued to practice, finding modest joy and delivering music and theater to uplift their compatriots.
This exhibition showcases handmade recreational items, musical instruments used by theater troupes, and paintings created during internment, offering a glimpse into the cultural activities of the internees. Please explore the various forms of "entertainment" that continued to kindle hope for survival among the internees in the despair of the labor camps.
Schedule | Jan 16 (Tue) 2024-Apr 14 (Sun) 2024 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | https://www.heiwakinen.go.jp/kikaku/20231212-1100/ | ||||
| Venue | Memorial Museum for Soldiers, Detainees in Siberia, and Postwar Repatriates https://www.heiwakinen.go.jp/english-index/ | ||||
| Location | 33F, Shinjuku Sumitomo Bldg., 2-6-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0233 | ||||
| Access | 1 minute walk from exit A6 at Tochomae Station on the Toei Oedo line, 5 minute walk from exit 2 at Nishi-shinjuku Station on the Marunouchi line, 10 minute walk from the West exit of JR Shinjuku Station. | ||||
| Phone | 03-5323-8709 | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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