Pinoy-Hapon United Foundation (PHUF), a non-profit organization, Honorary Chairman Takeshi Asanuma
Last week I received an “email” from an old acquaintance, “Mr. F.S.” He is on friendly terms with the ambassador two predecessors back, “Mr. Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Philippines (in office from November 2020 to March 2024),” and recently had an opportunity to meet “former Ambassador Koshikawa.” Their conversation turned to the “Philippines,” and the email told of the curious coincidence linking the “ambassador,” “Lieutenant General Yokoyama,” and “me, Asanuma.”
In October 2022, I met with “Mayor Biazon” of Muntinlupa City, told him of my plan to erect a “monument honoring President Quirino,” and asked for his cooperation; he gave his “gladly given consent.” The “mayor” asked me to send his regards to the “ambassador,” so I sent a report by email to “Ambassador Koshikawa.” I had become acquainted with “Ambassador Koshikawa” at the time of my “COVID vaccination.”
In February 2023, I received an invitation from the “Embassy” to “attend a dinner at the ambassador’s residence,” as a meeting concerning the commemoration of “President Quirino” was to be held, and I attended. Present at the meeting were three officers of the “Quirino Foundation,” “Mayor Biazon,” and the “president of the Japanese Association of Manila,” among others. In his remarks, the “ambassador” said that this year marked the 70th anniversary of “President Quirino’s decree under which 108 detained Japanese war criminals were paroled and sent home,” that a “commemorative ceremony” was planned, and that he hoped for everyone’s cooperation, and he introduced me to everyone.
On July 13, 2023, a solemn “ceremony” was held in the rain at the “Heroes’ Cemetery (the President’s burial place)” in “Taguig City.” I helped behind the scenes and was also able to lay a “floral offering.”
”Ambassador Koshikawa” gave my plan his full cooperation and support until his departure.
Now, about “Lieutenant General Shizuo Yokoyama (1890–1961).” In December 1944 he came to the “Philippines” as “commander of the Shimbu Group” under “General Yamashita,” and in March 1945 became “commander of the 41st Army,” deploying his forces (initially 80,000) east to northeast of “Manila.” After the “fall of Manila,” subjected to concentrated attack by American mechanized forces — air power, artillery, tanks, and more — and cut off from supplies of food, ammunition, and the like, his force was reduced to a state of devastation. On August 15, “Japan was defeated,” and on September 8 he came down from the mountains of “Montalban (the former name of Rodriguez, Rizal Province)” and surrendered.
”Lieutenant General Yokoyama” was held responsible as commander for the massacre of residents and mistreatment of prisoners by officers and men under him, was arrested on “suspicion of war crimes,” and was sentenced to “death” by a “military tribunal” in 1949. He was imprisoned in the “New Bilibid Prison” in Muntinlupa. Even so, the “Lieutenant General” remained calm and composed and sought to “set an example for the Japanese prisoners,” according to the later account of “Chaplain Kagao,” who shared his daily life in the prison for four years. The Japanese prisoners are also said to have addressed “Lieutenant General Yokoyama” as “Your Excellency” out of respect. The “Lieutenant General” was released and repatriated with a commuted sentence under the “Quirino amnesty” in July 1953.
On December 12, 2024, the dedication ceremony of the “monument honoring President Quirino” was held. Unfortunately “former Ambassador Koshikawa” was unable to attend, but we were honored by the attendance of “Ambassador Endo and his wife.”
On December 24, I received a courteous, lengthy email from “Mr. Yokoyama Shigeo,” the grandson of “Lieutenant General Yokoyama.” It said: “I have been a close friend of ‘former Ambassador Koshikawa’ since our university days, and I am the grandson of ‘Lieutenant General Yokoyama.’ In 1961, when my grandfather died, I was only four years old and do not remember it well, but I have heard about my grandfather, the ‘Lieutenant General,’ from my father. I am deeply grateful that you have erected the ‘Quirino monument,’ and I respect your unceasing efforts toward ‘mutual understanding between the Philippines and Japan.'”
He also said he would donate part of the cost of maintaining the “monument,” and I gratefully accepted the “donation” and sent him a courteous “thank-you email.”
A curious connection among “Ambassador Koshikawa,” “Lieutenant General Yokoyama,” and me, “Asanuma.”
コメント