Documentary features stories of Japanese war orphans in China

A documentary exploring the lives of Japanese war orphans in China is set to premiere on Tuesday, commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Titled, Journey Home, the documentary delves into the stories of Japanese orphans who were left behind in China following Japan's surrender in 1945. Known as "Japanese war orphans" in China, the children were adopted and raised by ordinary Chinese families.

The documentary crew conducted extensive interviews in both China and Japan, visiting cities including Harbin, Mudanjiang, Changchun, Shenyang and Lingyuan in northeastern China, as well as Tokyo, Saitama, Nagoya, Kumamoto and Osaka in Japan.

Of the 15 war orphans interviewed, six stories were selected for the final cut, along with an account from a second-generation war orphan.

Among them is 80-year-old Kimura Narihiko, who was left behind when he was just seven days old and adopted by a couple in Dunhua, Jilin province.