JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, accompanied by First Lady Yoshiko Ishiba, paid tribute to Japanese soldiers who fought in Indonesia’s War of Independence (1948-1949). The solemn flower-laying ceremony took place at the special Japanese soldiers’ section in Taman Makam Pahlawan (Heroes’ Cemetery), Kalibata, South Jakarta, on Saturday.

The tribute was dedicated to soldiers such as Eto Shichio (Jacob), Ishi Yoshinami (Satria), Goro Yamano (Abdul Madjid), Moch Toha Nishimura, and Takashikomatsu Usman. These men fought alongside the Indonesian National Army (TNI) in guerrilla battles against the Dutch forces. Their contributions earned them the prestigious Bintang Gerilya (Guerrilla Star) award.

Heru Eto, the son of Eto Shichio, expressed pride in his father’s legacy. “They participated in the first and second guerrilla wars around 1948-1949, which is why they were awarded the Bintang Gerilya,” he said. Heru noted that his father, along with other Japanese soldiers, chose to remain in Indonesia after Japan’s surrender in World War II, joining Indonesian forces to resist colonial rule.

“Out of approximately 900 Japanese soldiers who stayed, most perished in battle. Only 45 returned to Japan,” Heru stated. Many of these soldiers possessed prior military experience and were placed on the front lines.

During the war, some Japanese soldiers integrated into Indonesian society by marrying locals or refusing to return to Japan due to their allegiance to the independence movement. Of the 903 soldiers who fought, 235 were awarded the Bintang Gerilya, with many now interred at Kalibata Cemetery.

After the war, the surviving Japanese soldiers built new lives in Indonesia, taking roles such as translators, entrepreneurs, and mechanics. Heru emphasized that their sacrifices are an enduring symbol of the close ties between Indonesia and Japan.