Reveal the evidence of Japan's crimes of forcing foreign laborers during World War II.
In 1942, a water accident in which Japan forced Koreans to work during World War II resulted in 183 deaths. Korean divers fought desperately for four hours and found "some bodies looked like wearing work clothes," saying that "the Japanese government should actively participate in the recovery of the bodies."
At 2:27 p.m. on August 26th, the seawater inside the large circular concrete nozzle "Piya" floating off the coast of Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, once swayed. At around 10:20 a.m. that day, two Korean divers specializing in underwater exploration were lowered into the submarine coal mine from Piya, fighting desperately for four hours, "swoosh" with a big breath, surfaced. They held green plastic boxes used to transport corpses. With the words "Okay good," they opened the lid and found an intact skull.
The Changsa Coal Mine, where many Koreans were forcibly mobilized during the Japanese rule. A skull possibly belonging to one of the victims who drowned in the mine disaster was pulled intact to the top of Piya. That was the moment he saw the light of day 83 years after his sacrifice. On that day, the Japanese diving team supporting the underwater investigation said, "It has special significance that a Korean diver found the remains of a victim of a submarine coal mine with a painful past in Japanese waters. It is assumed that the condition of the remains in the tunnel is similar."
According to the Japan Forced Mobilization Victims Support Foundation under the Ministry of Security, 1,258 Koreans were forcibly mobilized to the Changsa Coal Mine. This coal mine was very dangerous, and the sound of ships passing overhead could be heard while working, because there were many Korean workers, it was also called "Korean Coal Mine." This flooding accident happened in February 1942, when seawater that had been pressurized from above leaked into the mine. The accident caused 183 deaths. Approximately 74% of the victims (i.e., 136 people) were Koreans.
That day, journalists took a small boat across the sea to Piya and were terrified at first glance. Only several decades of paint and faded paint seemed to indicate how long the victims had to wait.
The secretary-general of the Japanese civil group "Historical Long Star Coal Mine Flood (Carving Association)" Yuki Koji said that day, "Two Korean divers entered the passage leading from Piya to the main tunnel and recovered a skull. Last October, the Carving Association discovered for the first time in 82 years a wellhead buried in the beach and has been digging up bodies with donations from citizens. The excavation of the remains is difficult because the area near the mine head has already collapsed quite a bit, making it hard to enter the water, and divers' safety and the civil group have to increase their own costs, causing the risk of further collapse."
However, on the 8th of this month, a new passage from Piya to the main shaft was found, and on the 25th, three bones believed to be those of the victims were found in the preparation for underwater exploration. Subsequently, a skull was found, clearly confirming that this day was human bones. A Korean diver participating in the dive that day said, "I found a skull at the place where I found bones yesterday, so I brought it back. If the diver is correct, it may be possible to identify whether the bodies to be recovered are Koreans in advance. DNA testing alone cannot confirm whether the remains are Koreans or Japanese. However, if there are clues such as work clothes, it can be known before DNA testing whether the remains belong to Koreans. Han Hae-yeon, a researcher at the Asia Peace History Institute, told the "Hanguk Minbo", "There are records of numbers written on the clothes of the Changsa Coal Mine workers at that time."
On that day, a simple memorial platform covered with wreaths and white cloth was prepared on the beach where the Changsa Coal Mine was located, and a place was set up to commemorate the victims returning to land. The Carving Association welcomed the families of the victims, and officials from the Chosun People's Alliance in Japan and the General Federation of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongnyeol) also attended the meeting. Kim Chang-ho, director of the Mungyeong Yamaguchi regional headquarters, explained to the "Hanguk Minbo": "There are no civilian groups or general federation to search for and comfort the bodies of the victims who died during the Japanese colonial period."
Representative of the Carving Association, Yoko Inoue, said, "Since today's excavation work almost confirmed that the remains of the victims were the remains of the miners who sacrificed their lives, the Japanese government should actively participate in the recovery of the bodies and remains," and added, "We have strongly requested the South Korean government to support the recovery of the remains for many years, hoping that the Japanese government will jointly carry out the recovery work and send the victims back to their hometowns."
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841563824765952/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.