KOROR, Palau — Palau has reaffirmed its support for Japan’s ongoing efforts to recover the remains of thousands of Japanese soldiers who died during World War II battles on the islands of Peleliu and Angaur.
More than 10,000 Japanese troops were killed in the fierce fighting on the two islands. Since then, the Japanese government, in collaboration with Palau authorities, has worked to recover their remains. Nearly 8,000 have been retrieved to date.
Japan has steadily increased its commitment to the project. Recovery work at mass grave sites on both islands has continued for years, and the Japanese government has announced plans to double its budget starting in 2025, aiming to complete the recovery effort by 2027.
In 2023, excavations near an area in Angaur known as the Saipan Cemetery—suspected to be a mass burial site containing the remains of more than 300 individuals—led to the identification of five remains as Japanese through DNA testing. An additional 175 remains are awaiting DNA analysis.
Earlier this month, Japan’s Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Fukuoka Takamaro, visited Peleliu to pay respects to the war dead and to secure Palau’s continued cooperation. During his visit, the Palauan government pledged its full support to help accelerate the recovery process.