TANAKA Umataro
Born: 26 March 1868 – Died: 6 June 1945
Particulars:
Umataro was born in Japan. He was a widower working as a carpenter in Sumatra, then part of Dutch East Indies when the Pacific War broke out. He was captured in Sumatra, then was taken on the SS Heemskerk to Port Adelaide in South Australia. He was interned at Loveday Internment Camp, and died of ‘senility’ at the age of 77, a couple of months before the end of the war. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Colin Smith
More info:
Colin Smith
Artist/s Statement:
We don’t know much about Umataro. The authorities say he died of senility…I guess he was 77, but he must have died from something other than senility…maybe Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia that affect the body’s functions, but we don’t know. The most amazing thing about this man is that he had only one eye.
Artist Bio:
Colin Smith is an artist, writer, and translator of art texts. Originally from New Jersey, USA, he has been living in Osaka, Japan since 1998. He is fascinated with old, historic, and mysterious things. His arts practice utilises found or ready made objects and images.