My mother-in-law is visiting from Japan. A neighbor gave her a flag taken from Okinawa in 1945

My wife, her mother and I were out raking in the front yard earlier today when my neighbor came walking over. He asked to speak to my mother-in-law. He then walked over to her and, with my wife and I helping with the translating, told her that his grandfather had served in the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. He claimed a "Rising Sun" flag as a memento, and it has been in his family ever since.

My neighbor said he wanted to make sure the flag got home and hoped that my mother-in-law would be able to help. Needless to say, she accepted and was touched at his gesture. When she gets back to Japan, she will contact the local Japanese veterans association and start the process of either returning it to the government, a museum or to a veterans' hall.

An unexpected start to the day, but one I felt needed to be shared.

who seems to have made his peace with his former enemies.

I'm sure there are old vets in Japan who will be very touched by this.

Whichever side they were on, they were there and we weren't. They're the only ones who know, the only ones who remember. That is an unbreakable brotherhood.

Thank you for sharing this with us! This story is lovely on so many levels... :hi:

But he wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. I actually went over to his place after all of this and had the longest conversation I've ever had with him.

He is a good man.

Your neighbor was probably thinking about this for a very long time before he saw the opportunity to do what he hoped would make things right. And this probably meant more to him than it ever will to anyone else. And it's pretty amazing that you have an entirely different relationship now, much more significant than any neighbor. I guess you never really know about people. You've made a friend that you never knew. Very cool and your MIL must be especially touched by his gesture, too... O8)

K&R

thanks. definitely worth sharing. you might consider contacting the local press if your MIL and neighbor are OK w/ that move. great story.

My mother-in-law is giving his name and address (with his permission) to whomever ends up claiming the flag in case they want to get hold of him. Otherwise, this OP is about as public as the story is going to get, I think.

and a very classy thing to do.

I'm so weirded-out by all the airport security stuff these days that I wouldn't be suprised if they took offense to ANYTHING. I assume she can put this on her carry on, or maybe it would be safer in her checked luggage? I dunno. Just a thought, sorry for the paranoia.

I have absolutely no idea how a Japanese WWII era flag in a large ziplock is going to be received by security, but we're thinking it might be better to pack it with her clothes than try to carry it on.

I can't imagine a flag would cause too much difficulty, but it speak volumes to the current condition of air travel that we even have to entertain the thought.

thank you for sharing.