A U.S. veteran is hoping to return a Japanese flag and photo album, collected during and after World War II, to the families of their original owners during an upcoming visit to Japan.
James Blane, 84, a former Marine from Colorado, has been looking for the families of the original owners of a Japanese flag signed by relatives of a departing soldier, and a photo album containing numerous pictures of Japanese civilians which was recovered during the war...
...The album contains nearly 40 pictures of Japanese -- including infants, women and local families clad in kimono and other formal attire. It's highly likely that the album belonged to a civilian who lived on one of the South Pacific islands under Japanese mandate, where the sugar refining industry was promoted as national policy. Some of the pictures also bear Japanese names written on their back...
Full story, all photos here...
I know there are a lot of WWII photos floating around but I think this collection is special because these portraits are so expressive and in beautiful condition as well. I find myself wondering whatever became of these people, especially the younger ones.
