Our Correspondent
JOTSOMA, FEBRUARY 16
A Japanese delegation Monday visited the war memorial at Kiherü, Jotsoma village, and paid homage to the departed Japanese soldiers who died during the Second World War at the Battle of Kohima. The war memorial at Kiherü, standing above Jotsoma village, was erected on December 23, 1999 by the Naga National Council (NNC) in honour and memory of the Japanese soldiers who laid down their lives for their country Nippon (Japan) during the Second World War.
The Japanese delegation, comprising five members from the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), accompanied by four Indian government officials from New Delhi, is here in Nagaland to conduct a survey for future collaboration in agriculture development.
Speaking to media persons at the war memorial site, leader of the Japanese delegation Tomoki Nagamura while thanking the Nagas and the NNC for erecting the stone pillar in memory of the Japanese soldiers expressed hope that good relation will prevail among the Nagas and the Japanese in order to undertake any developmental activity in the near future.
On a query whether the Japanese government has plans to construct a cemetery for the departed souls in Nagaland, Nagamura informed that his team will convey the message to the Japanese government. He further expressed hope that the plan to construct a cemetery in honour of the departed soldiers in the near future will become a reality with better collaboration from both the sides. To this, he cited reasons that there had been restrictions for the interference of Japanese government in Nagaland in the past.
General secretary of NNC V Nagi told the Japanese delegation that the Nagas are ever ready to extend their fullest support and cooperation to the Japanese government if they come out with a plan to construct a cemetery for the departed soldiers.
During the programme, cultural troupes from Lotha and Sumi communities presented folk songs, while Pukoho Viro, an NNC member from Jakhama village sang the Japanese national anthem.
The programme was also attended by NNC members from various districts.
