~“Nikkei” in Palau~ Interview Series: Vol.#14 Mrs. Mayumi Shinosuka
2024/8/14
Mrs. Mayumi & her father Mr. Shinosuka
Mrs. Mayumi Shinosuka, now 87 years old is a Nikkei “Japanese descent”. Her father is Mr. Shinosuka from Higashi Kurume in Tokyo and her mother is Diribukel from Peleliu. She has one son who is a successful businessman in Peleliu. Her family owns a catering business and a motel that caters to visitors to Peleliu. Mayumi’s father, Mr. Shinosuka worked for a Japanese company named ‘Kohatsu’ that collected ‘Rinkoseki’ (phosphate).
Mayumi-san said “I believe that my father didn’t die during the war. He returned to Japan and remarried to a Japanese and had two children.” A Japanese friend of Ms. Mayumi, named Mr. Oda searched and found Ms. Mayumi’s half sister, Ms. Kayoko in Japan and brought her to Palau with her friend, Ms. Emiko. Ms. Mayumi visited her sister, Ms. Kayoko in Japan in 1968 with a US Peace Corp who was home staying with her in Peleliu at the time.
“I don’t recall much about the war, but I know that everyone from Peleliu evacuated to Ngaraard in Babeldaob. When we returned to Peleliu, my father was no longer in Peleliu. I never saw or communicated with my father but I visited his cemetery in Kodaira, Tokyo.”
In 1964, Ms. Mayumi started her catering business and a hotel with the money she made by sewing, catering and with monetary donations from a Japanese friend. In 1965 General Nakagawa’s wife and a group of Japanese visited the cemetery in Peleliu and some of their members also went to Angaur. After the visit by General Nakagawa’s wife ‘Ireidan’ visits to Peleliu increased.
She loves everything about Japan and has been to Japan seven times. She wants Japan and Palau to continue to maintain a good relationship.
Mayumi-san said “I believe that my father didn’t die during the war. He returned to Japan and remarried to a Japanese and had two children.” A Japanese friend of Ms. Mayumi, named Mr. Oda searched and found Ms. Mayumi’s half sister, Ms. Kayoko in Japan and brought her to Palau with her friend, Ms. Emiko. Ms. Mayumi visited her sister, Ms. Kayoko in Japan in 1968 with a US Peace Corp who was home staying with her in Peleliu at the time.
“I don’t recall much about the war, but I know that everyone from Peleliu evacuated to Ngaraard in Babeldaob. When we returned to Peleliu, my father was no longer in Peleliu. I never saw or communicated with my father but I visited his cemetery in Kodaira, Tokyo.”
In 1964, Ms. Mayumi started her catering business and a hotel with the money she made by sewing, catering and with monetary donations from a Japanese friend. In 1965 General Nakagawa’s wife and a group of Japanese visited the cemetery in Peleliu and some of their members also went to Angaur. After the visit by General Nakagawa’s wife ‘Ireidan’ visits to Peleliu increased.
She loves everything about Japan and has been to Japan seven times. She wants Japan and Palau to continue to maintain a good relationship.