6 days ago
Remains in Okinawa may be American, isotope analysis suggests
An analysis method has found that remains collected in Okinawa last year may be those of an American. The southern Japanese prefecture is known for the Battle of Okinawa, a campaign of fierce ground fighting 80 years ago at the end of World War Two.
The finding is based on what is known as stable isotope analysis. The method can be used to assess where a person was born by analyzing ratios of carbon and other isotopes.
Researchers, including those of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, say they used the method to analyze remains collected in April last year in a forest of Nishihara Town on Okinawa's main island. They got the results in May this year.
In response to the report, Scientific Analysis Director John Byrd from the US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is visiting in Japan. On Tuesday, he inspected the site where the remains were discovered.
Byrd then visited a prefectural organization that handles matters related to the remains of war dead. He was briefed on the study and received the remains.
He plans to identify them by conducting DNA analysis in the US. He said he wants to work with Japan and other related countries to make sure that remains are returned to their bereaved families.
Stable isotope analysis is helpful in determining where a person was born relatively quickly, and is commonly used in the US along with DNA analysis.
But in Japan, the method is used only in limited areas, including Okinawa, as it is still considered to be in the research stage.
Bereaved families of war dead are paying close attention to whether the method will be applied more widely to analyze remains, including those found overseas.
In Japan, the remains of many war dead have yet to be analyzed.
