Osaka POW Camp #3-B
Oeyama

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Osaka 3-B OEYAMA
(NIPPON YAKIN KOGYO)
KYOTO-fu, YOSA-gun, YOSHIZU- mura SUTSU. [Morita Report uses older names: Suzu, Yosjizu-mura, Yosa-gun, Kyoto Prefecture]
Location:
12 Kilometers from Miyazu Harbor, 500 meters from Nippon Yakin Nickel Refinery (aka Yakin Oheyama), nine kilometers from Oeyama Mine.
Japanese sketch (courtesy Tokyo POW Network).
Satellite View
Area overview
Area Map  

Timeline:
Morita Report: Camp established 20 Aug 1943. First 150+ POWs arrived 2 Sep 1943 from Hong Kong. The strength increased until there was a total of 700 POWs. Camp closed 2 Sep 1945. There were no subdivisions and camp never changed location.

20 Aug 1943: Established as Osaka 12-B OEYAMA
2 Sep 1943: First POWS arrived from Hong Kong
March and 17 May 1945: Americans from Yodogawa arrive
Aug 1945: Renamed 3-B
2 Sep 1945: Rescue effected
Photographs:
Aerial 1948 (courtesy of Japan Map Archive)


Camp barracks


Rescue


Memorial for Frank Evans (Welsh POW)
Located at a park near the old nickel mine and smeltering area
Photo 1 - Photo 2 - Photo 3 - Photo 4 (courtesy of Ellis)

 Labor: (Source: RG331, Box 949)
When the camp was first established the men worked in the Oeyama Mine (Nippon Yakin Kogyo, nickel mine with a ferro-nickel smelting plant), also in the Hachidate Branch Nickel Refinery. Prisoners did mostly common labor. The mining company furnished some additional facilities at the camp. After June 1945, some of the POWs began work at the Miyazu Harbor as stevedores and labor at the temporary dry dock. The men were guarded by guards furnished by the company at the place of work, civilians attached to the Army, and some Army guards.
N.B. Housed officers removed from Kawasaki after camp was destroyed in fire bombings.

Hell Ship:
Canadian (48) POWs- arrived in camp 7 Jan 1944. [SS Soong Cheong (15 Dec 43) to Takao, Formosa; Transferred to Toyama Maru (departed 30 Dec 43)- arrived 4 Jan 1944] Other men sent to Hiroshima #9 Ohama and 50 Canadians sent to Osaka #11 Narumi (became Nag-02).
Most Americans arrived on the Nissyo Maru. Sailed from Las Pinas to Moji with 1600 POWs, 12 died en route- July 14 to August 6, 1944. 200+ from Nissyo Maru also sent to Fukuoka # 22 and #23. Men transferred into this camp from Yodogawa had arrived on the Nagato Maru.

Camp Commander:
1st Lt Kosaku Hazama for entire period, 20 Aug 1943 to 2 Sep 1945. Complete list of Japanese staff. See also related War Crimes Trials documents T-019 and T-147.

One man, KAWAKITA, was an an American who was caught in Japan at start of war. He was vicious and brutal- hated Americans -- Convicted of treason.

Camp Rosters:
Americans only: Cross referenced with rescue rosters including some transfers. Includes roster of deceased Americans, developed by Japanese POW Research Network and corrected by Roger Mansell.
Original roster (PDF), includes preliminary roster (RG 331, Box 946).
OSA-03 Roster (WO361-1963) - American, British, Canadian, Dutch, Australian, Norwegian
OSA-03 Rosters(RG 407 Box 111) - Includes American officers, enlisted men, sick and deceased; English officers, warrant officers, NCOs, enlisted men, other ranks, civilians and deceased; Dutch officers (page 13); Australian officers and other ranks; Norwegian officers; New Zealand; and Canadian warrant officers, NCOs, enlisted men and deceased

Canadians: Some 150 Canadians were also at this camp. Partial roster of 82 men (includes 2 dead). Rescue roster not located yet. See Canadian web site for list.

Deceased:
To see greater records for the Canadians, visit Tony Banham's web site that details the Battle for Hong Kong. He accounts for every Canadian and British soldier in Hong Kong. A truly worthy site.

Books:
Happy, The POW by Carl M. Holloway
The Amonohasidate or The Gate of Heaven by Richard Yardley (2003) [NOTE: Amanohashidate is one of the three most scenic spots in Japan]
Roll Call at Oeyama: A P.O.W. Remembers by British POW Frank Evans