New Japanese Embassy Charge d’ Affaires Masayuki Takashima handed the package containing the bones to Kouichi Sakamoto, Director of the Planning Division of War Victims’ Relief.
The bones were earlier identified to be of Japanese soldiers who perished in Palau during WWII.The bones were identified to be of five individuals. The remains were found in Peleliu and the Post Office grounds in Koror.Sakamoto said the remains will be flown back to Japan and buried at the Memorial Park for unknown soldiers in Tokyo.Takashima thanked the Palau government for its assistance in ensuring that the soldiers will finally rest in peace.“We appreciate President Toribiong for the return of the remains, “Takashima said.The president was recently in Japan for a state visit on the request of the Palauan government. One of the meetings of the President was with Yoichi Masuzoe , Japan’s Minister of Health Labor and Welfare to discuss about the future bone collection and repatriation of Japanese war death victims from Palau to Japan.
