Unwitting Combatants: The Battle of Karafuto

Overview

A radio address by Emperor Showa on August 15, 1945 was supposed to mark Japan's exit from World War Ⅱ. But for people in Karafuto, a Japanese territory on present-day Sakhalin, the war wasn't over. As Soviet troops advanced, local Japanese commanders got a puzzling order: "Defend Karafuto to the death". With military resources depleted, civilians were sent to confront heavily armed Soviet forces. Over 7 days, up to 6,000 people died. Through interviews with survivors, we explore this tragic chapter.