Emperor expresses sympathy to Vietnamese left by soldiers

Japan's emperor expressed sympathy to the Vietnamese families abandoned by Japanese soldiers after World War II during his landmark visit to the Communist country.
Akihito and Empress Michiko, in their first ever visit by a Japanese emperor, met with a wife and 15 children of former Japanese soldiers in Hanoi today. He told them that he understands their difficulties and hope bilateral relations will continue to develop.
"I understand that the Japanese soldiers who remained here experienced tough times and their families here also had numerous difficulties," he said through a translator. "I feel that peace is very precious."
Some 600 to 800 Japanese soldiers remained in Vietnam after Japan's surrender in 1945 and they helped train Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh with their military expertise to fight the French colonial forces.

The first group of 71 soldiers was forced to leave after the Communists defeated French forces in 1954, abandoning their wives and children, who faced with difficulties and discrimination.
The last group of soldiers left the North in 1960, but was able to bring their families.

Nguyen Thi Xuan, 92, was the only one among the few surviving wives who was healthy enough to meet with the imperial couple.
Xuan told the emperor while weeping that she was "very moved" to meet with them and was grateful for them spending their time taking care of the families of Japanese who were left behind.

Xuan told the emperor that her Japanese husband spent nine years fighting the French with Viet Minh and when he left in 1954, she had to raise her four children, including one born after he left.
"It was so hard for you," the emperor comforted her. Xuan and her husband only met for a reunion 52 years later. Cao Khanh Tuong was one of the 15 children of ex-Japanese soldiers to meet with the imperial couple.
"I really hope that the historic visit by the emperor and empress will help to connect us with our countrymen in Japan for better understanding," he said.

Tuong said families with Japanese blood used to be faced with discrimination.
"Our neighbors would not allow their children to play with us, calling us sons of Japanese fascists, I was very sad," he said.
Tuong's father was forced to return to Japan in 1954, leaving behind his wife and four children. He was 5 years old then.