Key Facts
• Post-WWII, 14,000 Japanese POWs were sent to Mongolia by the Soviet Union.
• Approximately 1,700 died in extreme conditions, including -30°C temperatures.
• Survivor Hidezo Yamada, now 107, recalls malnutrition and freezing conditions.
• Yamada endured forced labor, including breaking frozen ground with iron rods.
• Mongolian citizen Ulziitogtokh, 48, transformed a former labor site into a park.
• The park now includes a museum to preserve the history of Japanese POWs.
• Japanese POWs contributed to building government offices still in use today.
• On July 8, 2025, Japan’s Emperor and Empress will honor a memorial in Mongolia.
• Both Yamada and Ulziitogtokh advocate for peace and historical remembrance.
Summary
In the aftermath of World War II, 14,000 Japanese prisoners of war were sent to Mongolia by the Soviet Union, where they endured extreme conditions and forced labor. Among them, 107-year-old Hidezo Yamada survived despite severe malnutrition and freezing temperatures, which claimed 1,700 lives. Yamada’s experiences, including breaking frozen ground, remain a poignant reminder of the past. Mongolian citizen Ulziitogtokh has preserved this history by converting a former labor site into a park and museum. The site, once a place of hardship, now symbolizes peace and remembrance. On July 8, 2025, Japan’s Emperor and Empress will pay tribute at a memorial in Mongolia, underscoring the importance of acknowledging this shared history and promoting peace.
