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October 29, 1947

Okura Ito Found
Baseball Legend Identified Among Returning POWs from India

BRAELAND CITY, October 29, 1947 (BP) – You can finally exhale baseball fans. Okura Ito, the former United Leagues legend who was forced to leave the country back in July 1941 when Braeland severed diplomatic relations with the Empire of Japan, has finally been found. Okura Ito’s whereabouts has been a topic followed with the utmost interest in this country, ever since it was announced that he was to be inducted into the new Braeland Baseball Hall of Fame. However, despite the efforts of the Department of External Affairs, the United Leagues Commissioners Office, as well as the Kingston Pelicans who Okura Ito played for, tracking him down proved to be elusive.

But late yesterday afternoon, the Department of External Affairs announced that military personnel attached to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan relayed to them the news that they had just processed a certain Okura Ito, who was being repatriated following four years of internment at the Allied prisoner of war camp in Delhi, India.

This morning in Braeland City, Secretary for External Affairs Clifford Miles, held a news conference that was packed with reporters to provide further details on Mr. Ito’s welfare and the circumstances of his life since leaving Braeland.

“Yesterday at 5:30 pm, we received a communiqué from Colonel Max McCormick of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers that they had received a contingent of Japanese soldiers returning from the British prisoner of war camp in Delhi, India. During the debriefing process, a military officer recognized the name of one of the soldiers when he was asked to identify himself, having been aware of the ‘Braeland bulletin’ – our request for information on this particular individual. After asking the returning soldier questions regarding his assignment in the Japanese Burma Area Army, the circumstances surrounding his capture by the British and various personal details, the officer then asked him if he had previously played professional baseball in Braeland.

“The soldier, who was lying on a cot due to his weak condition, suddenly opened his eyes for the first time during the interview, looked at his interrogator and asked through an interpreter, “How did you know that?” Our officer then informed Mr. Ito that in addition to his immediate family, he had an entire nation waiting in expectation for news of his safe return. It was then he noticed that the soldier’s eyes began to well up. He closed them and turned his head away. With that, the officer concluded the initial debriefing, confident that he had identified the individual we had been seeking.”

In response to the barrage of questions from reporters, Mr. Miles provided a brief sketch of Okura Ito’s experiences following his induction into the Imperial Japanese Army.

“According to Colonel McCormick, Okura was sent to serve in the Burma garrison as part of the Japanese Burma Area Army in November 1943. He miraculously survived not only the disastrous Battle of Kohima, but the horrendous Battle of Imphal as well. He was among the surviving members of the Japanese Army who surrendered to the Allied forces at Moulmein on 15 August 1945.”

However, Mr. Miles noted that Colonel McCormick was reticent to provide any further information on Okura’s activities following his surrender and internment at Delhi.

“It is entirely possible that instead of spending much time at the Delhi prisoner of war camp, Okura was pressed into duty by the British to serve in the Japanese Surrendered Personnel. Whether he was merely required to do road and airfield repair or in fact saw further military action in either the British or French colonial territories, we, of course, have no idea. But we do know that he experienced wretched conditions both before and after his surrender. We rejoice that Okura has finally made it home safely and it is our prayer that he and his fellow prisoners of war make a speedy and full recovery.”

United Leagues Rejoice Over Okura’s Safe Return

Foremost among those in Braeland overjoyed at Okura Ito’s safe return to Japan is the United Leagues family. Mr. Brendan Kelloway, Chief Communications Officer for the United Leagues, was on hand at the press conference and spoke to reporters following its conclusion.

“As Mr. Miles so eloquently expressed it, we rejoice with the rest of Braeland that Okura has been found and has returned home to recuperate from his ordeal. Certainly, we would love to see Okura return to Braeland and be honoured in person. But until such time both his personal circumstances as well as the political circumstances allow him to, we simply hope for a full recovery and lots of rest. We can only imagine what he has been through.”