UYECHI Yasuo
Born: 4 September 1919 – Died: 19 April 1945
Particulars:
Yasuo was born in Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. He was a single man working as a fisherman based in Singapore. His mother, who was living in Okinawa, was listed as his next of kin. When the Pacific War broke out, he was taken into custody in Penang and then sent to Australia with other Japanese civilians from the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. He was interned at Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia. He was admitted to the 121 Australian General Hospital in June 1944. He was transferred between the camp hospital and the Australian General Hospital many times until his death in April 1945, at the age of 25 with carcinoma of the ribs. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
Saku Sunakawa Family
Artist/s Statement:
Although we’ve lived in Australia for a long time, we didn’t know that so many people from Okinawa are laid to rest in Cowra. We’re deeply grateful for this project and we hope to one day visit Cowra as a family, to pay our respects at the graves.
Mr Uyechi’s occupation is listed as ‘fisherman’. I believe he was indeed a fisherman. The ocean around Okinawa is home to many brightly coloured fish. After arriving in Australia, Mr Uyechi fell ill with a disease and was repeatedly transferred between hospitals until he eventually passed away. Even during the painful times of his illness, I believe Mr Uyechi found peace by remembering the fish of his hometown’s sea. Surrounded by memories of the vibrant fish he once chased so passionately as a child, I imagine he was able to find calm, and pass away peacefully.
Artist Bio:
Saku Sunakawa Family is living on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Saku is from Miyakojima in Okinawa and her son’s name includes the character Ryu(琉）from the Ryukyu Kingdom, now Okinawa.