「生き残りの兵士となった」身元引受人の語り
–戦争体験と「中国帰国者」への奉仕活動を中心に–
「中国帰国者」の身元引受人は、地域社会で帰国者と密接な繋がりを維持し日常を最も知り得る立場にある。対象者が身元引受人に率先して名乗りをあげたのは「辛うじて生き残りの兵士となった」ことが動機である。太平洋戦争中、中国戦線での残虐な体験が、日本復員後「中国帰国者」への奉仕活動に駆り立てた。身元引受人の語りから、日本の地域社会で家族と共にたくましく生き抜く「中国帰国者」のリアリティあふれる姿が浮かびあがる。
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Findings from the narrative of a guarantor who survived World War II –focusing on his experience as a Japanese soldier and volunteer work for ‘returnees from China’
Guarantors of ‘returnees from China’ are closely involved in returnees everyday life in their community. A former soldier who barely managed to survive the Second World War volunteered to be a guarantor of ‘returnees from China’. It was to atone for his cruel deeds against native Chinese during the war. This misery war experience drove him to work for ‘returnees from China’. From the narrative of his involvement in the life of ‘returnees from China’ and their families are found the realities they face in their community life.