HOMMA Hatsune
Born: 5 October 1941 – Died: 3 May 1942
Particulars:
Hatsune, sometimes recorded as Hatsume, was born in Manokwari, Dutch New Guinea in the Dutch East Indies, now West Papua in Indonesia. Her mother and father were originally from Tokyo, and her father was working as an employee in an agricultural company when the Pacific War broke out. Hatsune, her mother, father and her 2-year-old brother were taken to Australia and interned at Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia. She died six months later at the age of 8 months. Her grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
Arisa Yura with Renon Yura Yuen
Artist/s Statement:
Hatsune / Hatsume was a Buddhist. Buddhists believe that when someone dies, they will be reborn again as different being. Hatsune in Japanese can be translated as ‘First Root’. Hatsume in Japanese can be translated as ‘First Sprout’. New Guinea has the most plant species of any island. I dream Hatsune/Hatsume could have been reborn as a native plant in New Guinea rooting itself deeply and strongly into the soil, never letting go of mother earth.
Artist Bio:
Arisa Yura is a Japanese Australian actor, voice artist, writer, and taiko drummer, working extensively across theatre, film, radio, and television. Along with her son Renon Yura Yuen, Arisa created artworks for the five children who died while they were interned in Australia.