ABSTRACT
The first half of this chapter analyzes the upbringing and lives of four Japanese orphans in China.
Introduced first is Takayoshi Fujiwara, who knew that he was the child of Japanese nationals when he was taken in by his Chinese foster parents. Raised in his disabled foster father's home, he became the captain of a “production squad”. He was highly renowned by people in his village. He went from being a peasant to a salaried worker.
Introduced next is Kazuya Yanagawa, who also knew that he was the child of Japanese nationals when he was taken in by his Chinese foster parents. He was raised by three foster families before living by himself at the age of 17. Using the fact that he was the child of Japanese nationals and living alone, he went from being a peasant to a salaried worker. He had a fighting spirit.
Then I introduce Yumi Watanabe, who was told that she was Japanese around the age of six. She was raised in a foster family with many children and struggled during her girlhood, then divorced her husband for his infidelities. There was a sense of distance between her and her foster family.
Finally, I introduce Masamichi Sato, who was told that he was the child of Japanese nationals around the age of seven. He was able to get a good education through the money earned by his father's physical labor. He became a member of the Communist Party at a major state-owned company, then was selected to be captain of a transportation corps. In the second half of this chapter, I summarize the following as the main things that supported the upbringing and lives of these four Japanese war orphans. These are “living as Chinese”, “socialism”, and “hardships in the foreign land of China”.
