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Imphal Peace Museum to Open on June 22 in Northeast India [2019/04/26]
 The Imphal Peace Museum scheduled to open on June 22 at the foot of “Red Hill” The Nippon Foundation is supporting a project to build the Imphal Peace Museum in northeast India to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal between the Japanese army and Allied forces. Under the project launched by the Manipur Tourism Forum, the museum is scheduled to open on June 22 in Imphal, the capital of Manipur state on the border with Myanmar, with a theme of “Peace and Reconciliation.” The Battle of Imphal is often regarded as one of the fiercest battles of World War II. The Imphal Peace Museum is designed to pass on this history to future generations. On behalf of the museum, The Nippon Foundation is now seeking donations of photographs, letters, notes, documents and other items relating to those who fought in the Battle of Imphal to exhibit and store there. We are also asking for monetary contributions to the Special Fund for the Imphal Peace Museum, which will be used to train curators and build additional storage facilities at the museum to be operated by the Manipur Tourism Forum. In the Battle of Imphal that lasted from March until July 1944, Japanese troops crossed steep mountains from Burma (now Myanmar) and attempted to capture Imphal, an important Allied logistic base controlled by the British, with the aim of disrupting the vital supply route for the Nationalist Chinese under Chiang Kai-shek in Chongqing. But the Japanese suffered a disastrous defeat after they failed to ensure sufficient reinforcements and supplies. Out of the 90,000 Japanese troops massed for the Battle of Imphal, more than 30,000 were killed−not just in the fierce fighting but also as a result of starvation, disease and exhaustion suffered during their retreat after the operation was called off. An additional 40,000 Japanese were wounded. After the war, due to a local armed struggle for independence from India, the area has long been out of bounds to foreigners without a special permit. But in recent years, there came a growing call from the local community in Imphal for passing on the story of the cruel war to the next generation. In 1994, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare built the “India Peace Memorial” at the foot of “Red Hill” where many Japanese solders succumbed some 20 kilometers southwest of the center of Imphal. The peace museum is located 100 meters east of that monument and work on the octagonal building, featuring exhibition spaces, a central hall and more, has almost been completed. The museum plans to exhibit artillery shells and other items collected by local volunteers. But there are currently very few items from the Japanese side. Given the advancing age of the bereaved family members of former Japanese soldiers, there is a sense of urgency to the task of acquiring such items. Through the foundation’s efforts, I strongly hope that there will be as many notes, letters, photographs and other items as possible donated from Japan in order to convey the lives of Japanese soldiers involved in the Battle of Imphal. For details regarding donations, please refer to The Nippon Foundation’s website.  Prime Minister Shinzo Ave wrote “Heiwa” or “peace” on this New Year’s calligraphy for the Imphal Peace Museum |