Monument of Teuro Nakamura stores very interesting history in Morotai Island, North Maluku province. Nakamura is the last Japanese soldier who surrendered at the end of 1974. Therefore, the Government of Morotai Island built this monument to the memory of the history in which Morotai Island had a strategic role as one of the bases during World War II.
The story began as Japanese forces controlled Morotai Island with a total of one battalion, or about 1,000 personnel. However, the allied forces, consisting of the United States and Australia, sent nine divisions or about 90 thousand troops to seize the island from Japan in 1944. The Japanese forces were overwhelmed and some got away, one of them is Teuro Nakamura. Generally, the Japanese soldiers who hid did not give up by the allies.
Nakamura comes from indigenous Taiwanese as Taiwan became a colony of Japan at that time. Born in 1919, he was conscripted and commissioned into Takasago Volunteer Unit of the Imperial Japanese Army in November 1943. He was placed on Morotai Island, Indonesia shortly before the island was conquered by the allies in September 1944 in the Battle of Morotai. He was declared dead in March 1945.
The Finding of Teuro Nakamura
There is a resident of Pilowo Village named Baicoli, who friends with Nakamura for decades. Baicoli met Nakamura while he hunted wild boar. From that meeting, they became friends. Baicoli frequently visited Nakamura in his hiding place to bring foodstuffs such as sugar, salt, or tea. And eventually, Baicoli felt that he would die at that time, then he gave a testament to his son, Luther Goge, to continue the friendship with Nakamura and kept suppling the foodstuffs. Luther then was introduced to Nakamura by his father and then continued the friendship.
However, in 1974, Luther began to feel his life would not be much longer. He began to worry about the condition of Nakamura. Luther did not have a child who will continue his relationship with Nakamura. In the end, he reported about his friendship to Morotai Island police chief, Captain Lawalata about the Japanese soldier who hid in the forest.
Initially, Captain Lawalata as the police chief did not believe about Luther Goge report. Thus, he reported the matter to the Commander of the Air Force in Morotai Island, Captain Supardi. Captain Supardi finally decided to pick up Nakamura. A team of 20 people, led by Supardi, was prepared to pick him up .
On 18 Desember 1974 the team departs from the city center of Morotai Island to the forest area in Pilowo Village, where Nakamura hid. At dusk, they set up tents and spent the night. There was a member of the team named Sergeant Major Hanz Anthony who speaks Japanese fluently. He then devised the scenario of Nakamura arrest. First, he taught Kimigayo song, the anthem of Japan, to the whole team. The team was memorized the song. In addition, the team also carried a picture of President Suharto and Indonesia flag along with a picture of the Prime Minister of Japan at that time, Kakuei Tanaka, and Japanese flag. The scenario is, when Nakamura appears, then the team sing the national anthem of Japan and shows Japanese flag, Indonesia flag, and a picture of President Soeharto and Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka.
On the morning of December 19, 1974, the team moved to pickup Nakamura. After a while walking, the team found Nakamura's hiding hut. At that time, Nakamura was not in place. The team then hid. When Nakamura was back, the team then surrounded the hut. Nakamura was shocked, his face looked very tense and tried to enter the hut. In accordance with the scenario, the team sang Kimigayo and waved the pictures and the flags. Hearing that, Nakamura stood up in a ready state. At that moment, Sergeant Major Hanz Anthony ambushed Nakamura. The team then pointed guns towards Nakamura and asked him to raise his hands. After that, Nakamura surrendered to the Air Force troops. Sergeant Major Hanz Anthony then spoke to Nakamura in Japanese. Hanz informed that the war was over since 29 years ago. Japan, as a country that defended by Nakamura, was defeated by the allies. Hanz also said that Morotai Island is currently independence and joined Indonesia. Additionally, Hanz showed the picture of President Suharto as Indonesia's current head of state. Not to forget, Hanz also showed the photo of Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka as Japan's head of government.
Teuro Nakamura's Life - 30 Years Hiding in the Forest
Nakamura's condition when he was found only wore clothes made of burlap sacks. His body was tall and well maintained. He has fair skin. The hut where he lived is just 2 x 2 meters wide. It made of wood and thatched roof. Inside the hut, There are piles of wood that has been warped because it was used as a bed by Nakamura. Besides, according to Sergeant Major Hanz Anthony who talked to Nakamura in Japanese, he will use the wood to burn himself if he can do nothing in the future. On the ceiling of his hut, Nakamura kept a weapon. He took care of the weapon since the war 30 years ago. On the ground floor, there were 14 active bullets. There was also one large bottle of lard. It was used by Nakamura to treat his weapon and for seasoning food. In the area of the hut, Nakamura planted various crops such as yam and cassava. He also built wooden fence surround the hut and the yard.
After being arrested, Nakamura was given a uniform by Indonesian Air Force. Without bond or handcuffs, Nakamura was taken to the Air Force base by sea using a speedboat. Nakamura, who hid for 30 years and not interacted with civilization, looked confused when he saw the crowds. In the Air Force base, his health was checked. According to the doctor, his condition is fine. Sergeant Major Hanz Anthony explained that Nakamura hid in the forest because he thought Morotai Island was still occupied by the allies. Moreover, the Air Force base of Morotai was frequently visited by Hercules aircraft. Nakamura thought that it was the allied forces. Every time the Hercules aircraft approached, Nakamura hid in the forest.
Eventually, Nakamura was picked up by the Air Force Chief of Staff at that time, Marshal Saleh Basarah from Jakarta, by Hercules aircraft. After taken to Jakarta, Nakamura was handed over to the Japanese Embassy. At first, he would be returned to Japan. However, there was an administrative issue because Nakamura is just a Japanese voluntary or compulsory military troop from Taiwan. Nakamura was finally brought to Taiwan.
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