• The Tarumizu Maru No. 6, run by the now-defunct Tarumizu Kisen Co., sails in this undated photo. According to the official incident report, 466 passengers died when the ferry capsized and sank on the morning of Feb. 6, 1944, just minutes after leaving the pier in Tarumizu, Kagoshima Prefecture. Many believe the death toll was much higher. | COURTESY OF HISAMITSU MIZUSHIMA
    The Tarumizu Maru No. 6, run by the now-defunct Tarumizu Kisen Co., sails in this undated photo. According to the official incident report, 466 passengers died when the ferry capsized and sank on the morning of Feb. 6, 1944, just minutes after leaving the pier in Tarumizu, Kagoshima Prefecture. Many believe the death toll was much higher. | COURTESY OF HISAMITSU MIZUSHIMA
  • SHARE

TARUMIZU, KAGOSHIMA PREF. – Even though 72 years have passed since the end of World War II, for Minoru Kawaida, 85, a little known event that happened on the morning of Feb. 6, 1944, remains at the forefront of his mind.

Having studied until 1 a.m., he overslept that morning. He remembers waking up in his home in Tarumizu, Kagoshima Prefecture, and saying, “Oh, no!” after realizing he had broken a promise to his closest friend and classmate, Terushi Kawabata, to go with him to Kagoshima that Sunday by ferry.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

PHOTO GALLERY (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

, , , ,