How an Australian warfare tragedy led to ‘lifelong friendships’ for alternate college students like Noriko

Key Factors

The Cowra Breakout occurred on 5 August 1944, leading to 234 Japanese and 4 Australian troopers shedding their lives.
An alternate program between excessive colleges in Cowra and Tokyo was launched in 1970 to nurture understanding.
Commemorative occasions have helped outdated buddies rekindle relationships cast 50 years in the past.

When Noriko Oka arrived in Cowra in 1978 as an alternate pupil from Japan, she was 16 years outdated and didn’t know a lot concerning the city’s tragic wartime previous.

“I used to be simply informed to go and get alongside properly with individuals there. I didn’t know English properly. Then my first host father stated to me ‘Perhaps it’s about time’ and introduced me to the POW campsite and the Japanese cemetery,” she informed SBS Japanese.

Noriko Oka with college students in Cowra in 1978. Credit score: Noriko Oka

Though she initially puzzled why there was a Japanese cemetery in a small New South Wales city, the lesson she realized that day caught together with her.

“(My host father) tried to clarify it to me, however I couldn’t perceive him a lot. Then he put his hand on my shoulder and stated, ‘That’s okay.’

“His daughter, Jennifer Hopkins, had been an alternate pupil to Seikei [Tokyo] in 1977 and stayed with my household for eight months.”

Noriko Oka (second from the precise) in 1978 together with her second host household, the Pressers. Credit score: Noriko Oka

“He stated, ‘Jennifer went to Japan and received alongside properly with individuals there. Then Noriko, you got here right here and you’ll make buddies with many individuals. You don’t must know what occurred up to now now. What issues is we’ve got interactions,’” Oka recalled.

Cultural alternate

This yr marks the eightieth anniversary of the Cowra Breakout, the place 234 Japanese prisoners of warfare had been killed trying to flee internment and 4 Australian troopers misplaced their lives.

It’s thought of World Struggle Two’s largest prisoner-of-war escape.

A supplied image obtained on Thursday, August 1, 2019, The burial of Japanese Prisoners of War who lost their lives in the mass breakout from the camp in Cowra. (AAP Image/Supplied, Australian War Memorial) NO ARCHIVING

The burial of Japanese prisoners of warfare who misplaced their lives within the mass breakout from the camp in Cowra. Credit score: AAP Picture/Equipped, Australian Struggle Memorial

A collection of commemorative occasions to mark the anniversary have introduced collectively individuals from close to and much, together with former alternate college students like Oka.

The alternate program between Seikei Junior and Senior Excessive College in Tokyo and Cowra Excessive College began in 1970, earlier than the White Australia coverage was formally abolished.

This system was initiated by Ab Oliver, a former Cowra Mayor who served in World Struggle Two and fought towards the Imperial Japanese Military.

In 1948, Oliver grew to become the president of Cowra RSL Sub-Department. Beneath his management, members began tending the cemetery the place the fallen Japanese POWs had been buried.

“The RSL had already began cleansing the Australian Struggle Cemetery each Sunday. I used to be informed that he (Oliver) noticed that the Japanese cemetery was left unattended. He considered the Australian and Japanese troopers as no totally different, in that they each fought for his or her nations. Then they began tending the Japanese cemetery too,” Oka stated.

“It wasn’t a simple factor to do in any respect, I heard. The adverse emotions towards Japanese individuals had been so robust that it made Mr Oliver assume one thing wanted to be completed.”

Noriko Oka (centre) lays a wreath at a ceremony to mark the eightieth anniversary of the Cowra Breakout in NSW. Credit score: SBS

Believing {that a} pupil alternate program would possibly assist nurture mutual understanding amongst younger individuals in Australia and Japan, Oliver contacted the Japanese Embassy in Canberra in 1969.

The embassy referred him to Seikei Excessive College and this system began a yr later.

Constructive change after tragedy

For former alternate college students, latest commemorative occasions like a lantern parade and mayoral dinner supplied valuable events to meet up with outdated buddies.

Jennifer Needham was the primary alternate pupil who departed Cowra in 1970.

Jennifer Needham (second from left) and Harumichi Maeda (proper) had been a part of the Cowra-Seikei alternate program within the Seventies. Credit score: SBS

“No computer systems, no web, no cell phones. A 16-year-old lady from a rustic city arriving in Tokyo,” Needham stated, surrounded by fellow former alternate college students close to Australia’s World Peace Bell in Cowra.

“It was completely wonderful and blew my thoughts. It actually modified my entire life. All due to the breakout.”

Who would have thought? All these years in the past, one thing so horrendous and painful. Now we’ve got friendships cast 50 years in the past and nonetheless rising.

Jennifer Needham

Harumichi Maeda, a former alternate pupil who first got here to Cowra in 1972, flew from Japan together with his spouse to mark the event.

“I’ve been to Cowra a minimum of seven occasions, I convey my household typically. We additionally have fun this system’s anniversaries each in Cowra and Tokyo. I’ve been in touch with my host household for greater than 50 years. At present I’m staying at my host sister’s place,” Maeda stated.

The Japanese Struggle Cemetery in Cowra throughout an occasion to mark the eightieth anniversary of the Cowra Breakout. Credit score: SBS

“I watched a movie concerning the Cowra Breakout once more earlier than I got here right here. This was a tragedy and I’ve unhappy emotions in direction of Japanese POWs.

“On the identical time, I’m so moved and really grateful that Australian individuals turned the hatred into reconciliation and have been taking care of the Japanese cemetery so properly.”

Instructing by way of translation

Oka defined how her time in Cowra has led to lifelong connections.

She just lately translated Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms, Dr Anita Heiss’ 2016 historic novel set in Cowra throughout World Struggle II, into Japanese for the primary time. 

Within the novel, Japanese soldier Hiroshi escapes the Cowra POW camp and is found by a person named Banjo Williams at a close-by Indigenous mission. The individuals of Erambie select to harbour Hiroshi from the authorities and he finally falls in love with Mary, Williams’s daughter.

“One of many issues I like concerning the novel is that Japanese POWs are vividly depicted as younger males of their 20s. It was eye-opening. I met a few of them (in actual life) however they had been already grandpas. I forgot that they had their youthful days, however after all (they did),” Oka stated.

Noriko Oka (left) on the present store of the Japanese Backyard in Cowra, holding a Japanese model of the Australian novel Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms written by Dr Anita Heiss. Credit score: Noriko Oka

Oka stated she met Heiss about seven years in the past when the Australian visited Seikei Excessive College in Tokyo.

“I reside simply two minutes from the college. So, if one thing Cowra-related or Australia-related occurs, I might get a name. I went to the college and met Dr Heiss there.”

Oka was giving Heiss a raise to her resort when the writer talked about her e book and that she was on the lookout for a Japanese translator.

“I assumed, sure, I can do that. I do know concerning the Cowra Breakout and I spent 10 months in Cowra. I do know the place,” Oka stated.

Lasting friendships

Oka beneficial Japanese individuals who go to Cowra to speak with the locals.

“Perhaps you possibly can ask them about their connections to Japan. They may be a bit shy at first, however they might kindly and generously share their tales with you,” she stated.

“Every Seikei pupil often has 4 to 6 host households throughout their keep in Cowra. Should you do the mathematics, many individuals in Cowra [population less than 13,000] have connections to Seikei college students, immediately or not directly.”

Eren Hasegawa (left) and Tsubomi Fujimoto, Japanese college students at the moment on short-term stays in Cowra. Credit score: SBS

Oka mirrored on the lasting friendships she has made because of her pupil alternate.

This yr, earlier than heading to the anniversary occasions, she took a visit to Melbourne together with her former host sister, who she’s recognized for 46 years.

“We promised one another to go to Melbourne collectively 4 years in the past. Then the coronavirus outbreak hit. We had been so decided this time to make it occur,” Oka stated.