Osaka 5D POW Camp Maruyama
Kawasaki (Kawasaki Jukogyo)

Main Camp List      Home

Osaka 5-D Kawasaki
(Kawasaki Jukogyo) [Kawasaki Heavy Industries]
KOBE-shi, HAYASHIDA-ku, MARUYAMA-cho 2-1
Satellite - require Google Maps
Relief Map: Position relative to other camps in area



Timeline:
8 Dec 1942:
Established as KAWASAKI Branch Camp
18 Feb 1943: Renamed 5-B KAWASAKI
15 Oct 1943: Renamed 5-D KAWASAKI
11 May 1945: Camp closed; POWs transferred to Fukuoka area POW camp and to Hiroshima POW Camp. (undetermined)
Source: All above courtesy of Wes Injerd

Information:
From Tony Banham, historian of the Hong Kong forces:

On 28 Feb 43, British POWs at Kobe start talking about their sick comrades being sent to a place called 'Kawasaki' or 'Kowsaki'. Here's an example:
Bill Poulter, Middlesex Regt, at Kobe House: “Spent all day spring-cleaning. Our hospital is going to move up into the hills to a place called Kawasaki."

From Wes Injerd, historian of the Fukuoka Area Camps

This was #5-D, Kawasaki Heavy Industries being the company "employing" the POW labor. It was up in the hills at a hospital, now Maruyama Hospital. Dr.Glusman was there,

Labor:
Ship building and material movement (Stevedore)

Hell Ship: Not known- Many POWS transferred here from other camps

Morita Report:
Prepared by Morita, Hirouki, employee of the Central Demobilization office, Osaka. December 1945.

Fifth Branch: Kawasaki or Maruyama Camp
Address: 2 Chrome, Maruyamacho, Nogata-ku, Kobe City
History: Camp was established 8 December 1942. Full capacity of camp was 600 POWS. On 10 May 1945, the American, Dutch, Australian, and British POWS were transported to Hiroshim and Fukuoka and the camp closed on 11 May 1945.
Camp Commanders:
8 Dec 1942 -20 June 1944: Capt Yasuji Morimoto
20 June 1944 - 10 May 1945: Lt. Kokichi Asokawa
Work:
At Kawasaki Jukogyo Kansen Koba - Heavy Industry and Shipyard located at Higashi Kawasaki cho, Hyogo Ku, Kobe City. The POWS worked building ships and transporting materials.

Rosters: Not found yet