Akiko Ota

Notes:

Akiko was born in Japan and lived with her mother Katsu, father Minoru, and 11 siblings.
She was an eyewitness to the bombing of Hiroshima, but she supported the decision to use atomic bombs to shorten the war, arguing it ultimately saved lives by forcing Japan to surrender.
She was 15 years old when her father died in 1945.

Her father was Admiral Minoru Ota, the final commander of the Imperial Japanese naval forces defending the Oroku Peninsula during the Battle of Okinawa at the end of the 2nd world war.

Regarded as one of the most intense battles of World War II, approximately 150,000 civilians were killed, some in mass suicides, and others were used by the Japanese as human shields.
Okinawa was the bloodiest battle fought in the Pacific, with more than 240,000 fatalities.
Admiral Minoru Ota committed suicide on June 13, 1945.

Akiko argued her father was actually against the war and blamed the Japanese army for a war Japan could not win.

Akiko came to New Zealand in 1953 after marrying a New Zealand soldier, Gordon Sutherland.
In later life Akiko returned regularly to the former Japanese Navy underground headquarters at Okinawa to honour her father and others who fought and died for their country.

Living in Wellington, she worked for the Department of Internal Affairs and the Japanese embassy as an interpreter, provided assistance to Japanese fishermen, and helping set up the Japan Society of Wellington.

In recognition of her work in building a better relationship with Japan, she was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays, by the emperor of Japan in 2000.
In 2009, she was involved, with the Japan Society, in getting the name Tokyo Lane reinstated to a Wellington street, 67 years after the war ended.

Akiko married Gordon Sutherland Jun 1953, New Zealand; divorced 1973, New Zealand. [Group Sheet]

1. John Sutherland was born , New Zealand.
2. Stuart Sutherland was born , New Zealand; died , New Zealand.
3. Peter Sutherland was born , New Zealand.

Akiko — Eric James Omundsen. Eric (son of James (Jim) Edvart Omundsen and Amy Eaton) was born 9 Aug 1920, New Zealand; died 3 Oct 1995, New Zealand. [Group Sheet]

Minoru married Katsu Ota Japan. Katsu was born , Japan; died , Japan. [Group Sheet]