UEHARA Kame
上原亀
Born: 1874 – Died: 28 July 1943
Particulars:
Kame was born in Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. He was a married man and his wife and son were in Shimajiri Gun in Okinawa, though he was working as a farmer in Vallee de Tir, Kanaky / New Caledonia. When the Pacific War broke out, Kame and his wife’s cousin, also working as a farmer in Nouméa at the time, were arrested as ‘enemy aliens’ and taken to Australia. Kame was first taken to Gaythorne Internment Camp in Meanjin / Brisbane, Queensland, then to Hay Internment Camp in New South Wales. He was hospitalised on the day of his arrival in Hay. He died from maxillary sinus cancer and syphilis at age 69. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
Kozue Kawahira with Naomi Kawahira
Artist/s Statement:
I chose this farmer because he’s from Oroku, the area where I grew up. His name is Kame Uehara. This is the only connection between us.
Uehara san remains largely unknown mainly because of the lack of material left behind.
My daughter, who was born in Australia, drew the painting. The painting is her image of Cowra’s sky. The old map is of Oroku, Naha in Okinawa in the early 1900s.
When thinking of those who lost their lives in the Pacific War, I can’t help but feel grateful for being able to live a peaceful life. I wish for world peace, not only for the present, but also for the children of the future.
Artist Bio:
Kozue Kawahira was born in Okinawa and grew up in Oroku, Naha, Okinawa, Japan. She moved to Australia in the late 1990s and now lives with her family in Sydney, Australia. Naomi is her daughter.