🗺️ Peace Memorial Museum

The "Peace Memorial Exhibition Hall" located in the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building was established to help people understand the hardships faced by soldiers during the Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War, as well as the experiences of post-war detainees and repatriates through various materials. In the "Soldiers' Zone," visitors can gain insight into the military life of soldiers who left home for dangerous battlefields. The "Post-War Detainees Zone" introduces the conditions of labor camps in Siberia, Mongolia, and other places where individuals were forced to work. In the "Overseas Repatriates Zone," one can learn about the repatriates who survived under harsh conditions and returned to Japan after the defeat. Using contemporary materials, photographs, and testimonies from those involved, three-dimensional models are created for presentation and display. The exhibition heavily utilizes videos and images, making it accessible for generations that may not understand the war. In addition, there are various themed "Planning Exhibition Zones," a "Library Area" with approximately 2,000 books available for free browsing, a "Film and Media Room," and a "Data Media Area," all of which provide facilities to help deepen people's understanding of the war.

Understanding that soldiers who cannot forget their painful experiences even after the war, those forcibly detained after the war (the so-called Siberian detainees), and those repatriated from overseas have their stories to tell. Using a variety of displays such as images, videos, and three-dimensional models, we make it easy for generations who do not understand war to comprehend these experiences. On the third Sunday of every month at 14:00, we hold a storytelling session featuring those who have lived through the war.