The enduring trauma of warーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Key Concepts

• Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD): Psychological trauma resulting from the extreme stress, violence, and conditions of warfare.
• Kisein Psychiatric Medical Center: A facility established in 1945 that became a repository for medical records documenting the mental health struggles of WWII veterans.
• Invisible Wounds: The long-term, often overlooked psychological scars carried by soldiers returning from conflict.
• Intergenerational Trauma: The impact of a veteran's untreated mental illness on family dynamics and the subsequent emotional burden placed on their children.

---

1. Discovery of Historical Medical Records

Newly discovered medical records from the Kisein Psychiatric Medical Center provide a rare, empirical look at the mental health crisis among Japanese soldiers following the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.

• Scope of Data: Researchers have gained access to approximately 300 patient records.
• Statistical Context: During the final four years of the conflict, at least 670,000 Japanese soldiers were diagnosed with mental disorders.
• Significance: Experts emphasize that these records are vital for filling the historical void regarding the post-war period, offering insight into the specific emotional and psychological states of veterans who were unable to reintegrate into society.

2. Battlefield Conditions and Mental Health

The records indicate a direct correlation between the extreme conditions of the battlefield and the onset of psychiatric disorders.

• Case Study: One record details a private first class whose disorder originated in New Guinea. The harsh, high-stress environment of the front lines is cited as a primary catalyst for his subsequent violent behavior and long-term hospitalization.
• Clinical Perspective: Psychiatrist Shin Fukunaga, who began treating these patients in 1970, noted that the combination of constant bombing and extreme psychological stress shattered the mental balance of soldiers, leaving them with no support system upon returning home.

3. The Burden of Long-Term Trauma

The trauma experienced by soldiers often persisted for decades, leading to social isolation and, in severe cases, suicide.

• Extended Hospitalization: Even 25 years after the war, many veterans remained in residential psychiatric care, unable to return to civilian life.
• The Tragedy of Suicide: Dr. Fukunaga recounted the suicide of a patient in his 60s, reflecting on the profound sense of hopelessness that permeated the lives of these veterans. He expressed personal regret, stating, "I wonder if I should have listened to him a little more about the war."

4. Impact on Family Dynamics: The Case of Fujioka Michio

The trauma of war extended beyond the individual soldier, deeply affecting their families. The testimony of Fujioka Michio illustrates the domestic reality of untreated PTSD.

• Symptoms of Trauma: Her father, a Navy veteran who spent three years in Siberian detention, exhibited classic signs of hypervigilance and aggression. He suffered from flashbacks, triggered by mundane sounds like rattling window frames, which he interpreted as imminent threats.
• Domestic Violence: The father’s inability to process his trauma manifested as violence toward his family, eventually leading to the mother leaving with the children.
• The Cycle of Regret: Fujioka’s father died by suicide when she was 10. She recalls his final visit, where he displayed uncharacteristic affection and begged for forgiveness. Fujioka notes, "The reason that my father had mental illness was because his right... to happiness was taken away by war."

5. Synthesis and Conclusion

The research into the Kisein Psychiatric Medical Center records serves as a critical step in acknowledging the "invisible wounds" of war. The evidence suggests that the Japanese government and society largely overlooked the mental health crisis of returning soldiers, forcing them and their families to bear the burden of trauma in silence. The ongoing study of these records is essential not only for historical accuracy but for understanding the enduring, multi-generational impact of war on human psychology. The primary takeaway is that the destruction caused by war extends far beyond the battlefield, permanently altering the lives of those who survive it.