Koreans who Died in WWII Air Raids in Osaka Among Those Remembered at Memorial Ceremony

The Yomiuri Shimbun

2:00 JST, March 19, 2026

OSAKA — A memorial ceremony was held in front of Osaka International Peace Center in Osaka to remember Korean and other foreign victims of eight large-scale air raids in Osaka Prefecture during World War II.

Of the roughly 50 air raids in the prefecture, eight involving more than 100 B-29 bombers were conducted toward the end of the war. About 15,000 people were killed or went missing in the air raids.

The casualties are believed to include many Koreans, though accurate data is elusive.

During Saturday’s event, participants read out the names of 167 Koreans, eight Chinese and two American prisoners of war, who had been identified as victims of air raids, and paid tribute to them.

A man, whose great-great grandfather was killed during the raid, laid flowers with his grandfather. “As a member of the younger generation, I want to properly pass on this history to future generations,” he said.