On August 31, Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA will host a virtual briefing and discussion, “Returning Yosegaki Hinomaru to Where They Belong”, featuring remarks by Mr. Rex Ziak, co-founder of OBON SOCIETY.
It is estimated that more than 10 million Yosegaki Hinomaru or Shusseiki, Japanese national flags with signatures of family members, neighbors, co-workers, and community people, were given to Japanese soldiers wishing them good luck in the battle fields. During WWII, Japan lost roughly 2.4 million military personnels and roughly 1.12 million military personnels remain have not returned home. Many of them perished in climates and topography, which make it virtually impossible for their remains to survive. In the meantime, American soldiers realized Yosegaki Hinomaru made the most perfect battlefield souvenir, resulting in tens of thousands of these small flags being carried home. It is estimated that more than 50,000 could be found in America alone. These flags are the only “nonbiological human remains” of deceased Japanese soldiers to the families.
The OBON SOCIETY recently worked with the Lexington Museum to successfully return one such Yosegaki Hinomaru, which had been on display at the museum for the last 29 years, to the soldier’s family. Mr. Ziak and the Honorable Haruko Arimura, a member of the House of Councillors, will talk about a story of healing, reconciliation, and new connection between the U.S. and Japan. The event will be moderated by Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, chairman and president of Sasakawa USA.
This event is FREE with registration. Click the button below to register:
EVENT SCHEDULE:
8:00 AM: Welcome from Dr. Satohiro Akimoto
8:05 AM: Featured Remarks by Mr. Rex Ziak
8:30 AM: Comments by Hon. Haruko Arimura
8:37 AM: Q&A Discussion Moderated by Dr. Satohiro Akimoto
9:15 AM: Conclusion of Event
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Mr. Rex Ziak is a co-founder of OBON SOCIETY and a professional videographer. He and his wife, Ms. Keiko Ziak, realized 1,120,000 Japanese servicemen have been missing from WWII and the only surviving "nonbiological human remains" of many of these men happen to be located in America. Americans want to return these remains to Japan and Japanese families want to connect with their missing relatives, but there has not been any possible way for the two parties to find each other.
In 2009, Mr. and Ms. Ziak began OBON SOCIETY designed to be the point of contact between the American and Japanese families. They have been contacted by citizens of more than 20 countries, and OBON SOCIETY has traced more than 900 personal items back to Izoku families; of these 500 have already been returned.
From 1991 to 2006, the governor of Washington state appointed Mr. Ziak to a special advisory committee of scholars to advise him on historical matters. The federal government purchased historic sites and created a new National Park to preserve history that Mr. Ziak has revealed. He has also dedicated himself to saving the last remaining ancient forests bordering the Pacific Ocean along the coast of Washington state from being cut from 1990 to 1998, saving hundreds of acres of ancient forests from destruction.
From 1985 to 2000, Mr. Ziak was hired as a free-lance, documentary photographer and worked on assignments across America for a variety of clients. His photographs have appeared in magazines, annual reports, AV productions, posters and advertisements. Mr. Ziak also has worked for ABC Television, Turner, Discovery, HBO and others. In 1993, he earned an EMMY AWARD for "Cinematography; Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft.
Honorable Haruko Arimura is a member of the House of Councillors, chairperseon of the Board of Oversight and Review of Specially Designated Secretes, and president of the Liberal Democratic Party Central Institute of Politics.
Hon. Arimura has been elected to the House of Councillors for four consecutive terms of 22 years since 2001 and has held major positions in the Japanese Diet, the government, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP).
Her tenures include deputy chairperson, General Assembly of LDP Members of the House of Councillors (2021); chairperson, Public Relations Headquarters, LDP (2021); president, Judge Impeachement Court, House of Councillors (2020); chairperson, Policy Board in the House of Councillors, LDP (2019); chairperson, Deliberative Council on Political Ethics, House of Councillors (2019); minister of state for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (2014); minister of state for Administrative and Regulatory Reform (2014); minister of state for Measures for Declining Birthrate (2014); minister of state for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety (2014); chairperson, Committee on Environment, House of Councillors (2008); and parliamentary secretary of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2005).
Dr. Satohiro Akimoto is chairman and president of Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA. He is also contributing writer for the Japan Times, associate fellow for the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, and contributing writer for Okazaki Institute in Tokyo.
Dr. Akimoto received his Ph.D. in sociology and MA in East Asian studies from Harvard University, a certificate of Russian studies from Leningrad State University, and BA in law from Keio University.