Greetings
For Friends Who Remain Forever in Siberia
By Isamu Yoshida
I am very glad that I was invited by Russian people to have this opportunity to hold this exhibition. Unfortunately, I was forced to go to war and then had to go to Siberia. Because of that experience, I strongly feel we must not repeat worthless war. That is why I drew anti-war pictures. Here, I have two hundred pictures on that theme.
In 1994, I went to Manchuria since it was a part of Japan back then. I was recruited as a soldier to be there. In 1945. on our way from Mudanjiang to Haerbin, we learned about Japan's defeat in World War II. So we surrendered, and then we were taken to Siberia as prisoners. First, I cut hay in the huge field in Ussurijsk, and in July 1947, I finally went back to Japan from Nakhodka. During those years, I lost lots of brothers and friends. I started to draw, wishing for peace for the fallen souls. For now, I truly wish that the next generation would know what this was was all about. Thirty years after I came back to Japan, I was standing in front of a canvas with the thought that through the pictures I draw, I would reveal the truth words can not convey.
I have drawn three hundred pictures so far. I also have ten times as many sketches as well. I will continue to draw the pictures with the theme of the war until I breathe my last breath. I wish peace for the world because of the experiences I had. Every life is priceless. Looking at my pictures, you would see that war is a witch that makes a person into a wild animal. We must not repeat this brutality. How horrible it is! I would like you to dedicate yourselves to the cause against war. That is the purpose of my pictures, and that is what I want you to do. I thank the Khabarovsk Government Department of Culture to have given me this opportunity. ALso, I thank everyone who helped.
Russian-English Translation by Margarita and Yuriy Sadoma
