A Japanese historian records the names behind wartime death toll

HIRAKATA, Osaka -- For two decades, Tadayoshi Onawa, an 83-year-old historian, has been visiting cemeteries in his city to record the names of those who died during Japan's wartime campaigns. His goal is to ensure the lost individuals are remembered beyond mere numbers, as they once had families and lived their lives. Approximately 3.1 million Japanese perished in the Second and Pacific Wars, including around 2.3 million military personnel and civilian employees.

Onawa, who retired in 2006, documented about 790 individuals, primarily military personnel and civilians, from gravestones and family accounts. Most of the 700 people with known death dates passed away during the latter stages of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945, with nearly 70% falling between the ages of 20 and 30. China, the Philippines, the Central Pacific, and eastern New Guinea were the primary locations of loss.

Onawa has also prepared hand-drawn maps for bereaved families seeking the sites where their loved ones perished. Despite his age and mobility challenges, Onawa remains dedicated to his research, as it helps people understand the hardships and sacrifices of previous generations beyond mere statistics.