Press Releases
FY 2016 Japan-Australia Grassroots Exchange Program Former Prisoners of War (POWs) from Australia Invited to Japan
1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invite a total of nine people, consisting of an Australian who is imprisoned as a prisoner of war (POW) during World War II, three widows of POWs, four members of their families and a historian, to Japan from January 23 to 30.
2. This invitation aims to promote mutual understanding between Japan and Australia through encouraging reconciliation and friendship by inviting former Australia POWs to Japan, who hold particular sentiments toward Japan due to their experiences during World War II.
3. During their stay, in addition to the schedule in Tokyo that will include visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, interacting with citizens and visiting the Yokohama Commonwealth War Cemetery in Hodogaya, they are also scheduled to visit other cities such as Echizen City in Fukui Prefecture, where the POWs were interned as prisoners during World War II. They will also visit Kyoto to experience Japanese culture.