Japan to assist
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 07, 2014:
General Secretary of the Japan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India Tatsuo Nishimoto has said that the Government of Japan will assist in developing the various battle spots of World War-II in Manipur, reports NNN.
Addressing the people at Motbung, some 17 km north of Imphal while commemorating the 70th Anniversary of Battle of Imphal during World War II in 1944, Tatsuo Nishimoto said for his country the sites of battle are very important.
He said Japan will extend help to develop and protect the battle sites.
Indian National Army (INA) led by Subhash Chandra Bose and Japanese forces strongly resisted the incoming Allied Forces at Motbung in 1944.Around 15,000 soldiers of the INA and Japanese soldiers confronted the charging Allied Forces of equal strength at Motbung.
To commemorate this battle, today's event was jointly organised by Manipur Tourism Forum and World War II Imphal Campaign Foundation.
Motbung Village Authority chairman SL Lamthang was the chief guest of the programme while Dr Kh Palin, Managing Director of Shija Hospitals and Research Institute, Imphal was the event president.
Tatsuo Nishimoto then expressed happiness that the relationship between India and Japan is fast improving over the years.
He also said Manipur is very important for Japan due to various factors.
He stated that physical features of the people of Manipur and the Japanese are similar.
Tatsuo Nishimoto further said with the present trend Manipur will become a key point in the South East Asia in the near future.
Dr Kh Palin stressed the need for developing of all these battle sites in Manipur.
He said the government of India, of late, has acknowledged the tourism potentiality in Manipur and hence keen to develop the tourist spots.
Dr Palin said Motbung will find large number of tourists in the near future as this battle of World War II was fought here "and once the government developed this spot there is bound for the tourists to swarm into Motbung." Kaisuya Okihiro, chairman cum managing director of Sumimoto Corporation also attended today's programme at Motbung.
The commemoration began on March 23 and will conclude on June 28 .