Int'l Negotiator, NE Asia Specialist, War-tested Leader・Special Advisor @YCAPSjapan・All views my own
Sep 1, 2018 • 10 tweets • 7 min read
(Thread) Earlier, I shared an old letter my grandpa wrote about the occupation of #Japan. The response was so overwhelming I searched for (& found) an interview with my grandma on the same subject.
Today, on the anniversary of the formal end of #WWII, I’ll share some excerpts:
(2/9) Some background on my grandmother first:
・Born/raised in Yokohama
・Before the war, family was well-to-do merchants, but the imperial gov’t took all their wealth for the war effort
・English speaker from young age
・Got a job as a switchboard operator for Occupation forces
Aug 14, 2018 • 9 tweets • 6 min read
(Thread) Every year around August 15th I dust off one of my most prized possessions: an old letter my grandfather wrote me answering my questions about his experiences in the postwar occupation of Japan.
Today, on the 73rd anniversary of V-J day, I’d like to share some excerpts
(2/9) Some background on my grandpa first:
・Forged his birth certificate & enlisted at 16
・Spent his 1st year of service as an Army boxer (story for another day)
・Landed on D-Day
・Sent to PI for mop-up fighting before V-J day
・Among the 1st to arrive for the occupation
(2/9) Some background on my grandmother first:
(2/9) Some background on my grandpa first: