KINOSHITA Sueko
Born: 30 May 1944 – Died: 30 May 1944
Particulars:
Sueko was born at just after midnight on the last day of May 1944, but died nine hours later at the Waranga Hospital in Victoria, Australia, where she was born. Her father was born in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan and was a farmer in Nouméa, Kanaky / New Caledonia. Her mother was also of Japanese heritage but born in Nouméa. Three months after the Pacific War broke out, the Kinoshita family of eight – including four boys and two girls ranging from an infant to an 11 year old – were arrested, brought to Australia, and interned at Tatura Internment Camp in Victoria. Sueko was conceived, born, and died in internment. The family had another baby girl one year later. Sueko’s 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:
In Japanese, Kinoshita translates to ‘at the foot of a tree’. The national flower of New Caledonia is Kowhai. Sueko died at birth and never got to see New Caledonia, where her parents had made a home. Sueko’s name is covering the Kowhai flowers all over the tree.
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.