Torataro Saigo, Commander of the Captives' Camp
Torataro Saigo, Commander of the Captives' Camp*

After that, the Temple became a new sightseeing spot in Tokyo. Many people gathered there to see the German soldiers. But as the soldiers were obliged to endure such observations, they became irritated. They played football in the court-yard, surrounded by a bamboo fence, a fence that was too narrow. Thus, a plan to erect a new facility took place, and a new captivefs depot with barracks was built in a corner of the vast military practice field in Narashino, Chiba.

Inside of Captives' barrack

On September 7, 1915, the soldiers left the temple, and boarded a train at Ryogoku station and arrived at Tsudanuma station later that day. The German soldiers marched, and sang German songs at Okubo and Mimomi. A boy wearing a military cap and a toy saber greeted them. The officers and soldiers rejoiced at the new wide and spacious accommodations, unlike the ones in Asakusa. Now they could enjoy sports more freely.

Later, the officers and soldiers had been transferred from Oita, Shizuoka and Fukuoka to Narashino. At the peak period almost 1000 people lived in Narashino. Fritz Rumpf (Oita), Emil Scriba (Kurume), Fukuoka Governor Meyer-Waldeck and Dr. Friedrich Hack all met in Narashino.



Inside of Captives' barrack

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