Faces of the War

Left: In 1980, Nie Rongzhen received Kato Mihoko in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, 40 years after Kato’s rescue by the Eighth Route Army. Right: Marshal Nie Rongzhen and Kato Mihoko, captured by a photographer in 1940.

On learning of the Xinhua report, Mihoko wrote to Marshal Nie, expressing her thanks to him for saving her life and also indicating her wish to revisit China. Then, on July 10, 1980, at the invitation of the China-Japan Friendship Association, Mihoko began her visit to China. On July 14, Nie received Mihoko and her family at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. A documentary recording Mihoko’s visit was made by China’s Central Studio of New Reels Production.

“It had never occurred to me that we would be so warmly received in China. I’m just an ordinary Japanese woman. My miraculous childhood experience has attracted so much love and attention, since our two peoples cherish a common wish: lasting peace and friendship between our two countries,” Mihoko told media while visiting China.

Back in Japan, Mihoko is devoted to promoting exchanges and friendship between China and Japan. Marshal Nie’s daughter, Nie Li, and granddaughter, Nie Fei, have continued the family bond in their correspondence with Mihoko. They hope the two countries’ friendship will be passed on from generation to generation.