〈Painter’s words〉

Relocation orders came through in May 1946. Back we went on the same road that the trucks had rattled along just six months ago, but this time we were going to Shira on foot. We shuffled along slowly, a bedraggled bunch in our tattered army-issue clothing, barely managing to drag our blistered feet along. From time to time we would spot weeds that seemed edible at the side of the road and snatch them up greedily, or stop at a muddy puddle to quench our thirst. After two days and two nights we finally reached Shira. As we approached the township, the Soviet soldiers formed us into lines and told us to sing. Presumably they wanted to show the Japanese prisoners of war as happy and cheerful, with no outward signs of ill treatment or cruelty. We sang some old military songs, but with no conviction whatsoever.

Siberian Series (Shinchosha, 1971)

Kazuki Yasuo 1911 – 1974
Born in Misumi-mura (now Misumi, Nagato City) in Otsu-gun, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Studied oil painting at Tokyo School of Fine Arts, then taught fine art while producing works that were primarily exhibited at Kokugakai (National Painting Association). Kazuki was sent to fight in the Pacific War (WWII), then interned in Siberia after the war. This experience resulted in the Siberia Series, which won the inaugural Japan Art Grand Prize in 1967. This series is considered an important body of work that still resonates widely today.

《畫家的話》

1946年5月，收到了轉移命令。半年前，乘著卡車顛簸而來，現在從同一條路徒步前往希拉小鎮。穿著破舊軍衣、拖著不合腳的鞋，如同乞丐般的隊伍，慢吞吞地前行。一路上，看到可以吃的草，就拔起放進嘴裏，喝水窪裏的泥水解渴。走了兩天兩夜，終於到達希拉小鎮。在小鎮附近，蘇聯士兵讓我們隊列，唱歌。可能是想表現，日本的俘虜並沒有受到虐待，還能如此健康地生活。我們唱起了曾經的軍歌，卻沒有任何的感情。

《西伯利亞畫集》（新潮社 1971年）

香月泰男
生卒年　1911～1974（明治44年～昭和49年)
香月泰男出生於山口縣大津郡三隅村（現長門市三隅），在東京美術學校學習油畫，在擔任美術教員的同時，主要在國畫會發表作品。1967年， “西伯利亞係列 “獲得了第一屆日本藝術大獎，描繪了香月在太平洋戰爭中服役以及戰後被關押在西伯利亞的經曆。那些作品至今也受很多人歡迎。