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Mae Hong Son - World War II Museum

Photo Gallery of Khun Yuam World War II Japanese War Museum of Mae Hong Son in Northern Thailand.

Khun Yuam World War II Japanese War Museum
Jeeps are displayed outside, exposed to the rain.

Mae Hong Son is about 300 km to the northwest from Chiang Mai, and it's close to the border between Thailand and Myanmar. It will take about 40 minutes from Chiang Mai by air (if my memory is correct. :D ).

Mae Hong Son is famous for Long Neck Tribe - Ban Nai Soi, the beautiful temples at the edge of a lake, Wat Chong Kham / What Chong Klang and the temple on top of a mountain, Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu reported on a different page.
Check out the Mae Hong Son top page for other spots.

Thailand has memories of the last World War here and there. I guess Kanchanaburi is very famous for one of the places to show the memories of the war but Mae Hong Son also has one of them: Khun Yuam World War II Japanese War Museum.

Exhibits outside of the museum
Let's tour inside of the museum

[Khun Yuam WW2 Museum] Exhibits outside of the museum

War memorial
Comrades, rest in peace.

This is the Khun Yuam World War II Japanese War Museum opened on November 9, 1996, in Mae Hong Son in northern Thailand.

This museum collects Japanese army artifacts in the Burma War and their theme is to clear the truth of the last war, different from the museum in Kanchanaburi which shows cruelty of Japanese troops.
In this area, it's said that local people took good care of tens of thousands of soldiers who retreated from their disastrous defeat at the Battle of Imphal. The relationship between the local people and Japanese soldiers were very good.

The founder is Chiedchai Chomthawat, deputy police superintendent at the Khun Yuam police station. When he became the deputy police superintendent in 1955, he went around to say hello to the residents in the area and found that each house held mementos of Japanese soldiers as their treasures. He then got to know Japanese soldiers had lived in Khun Yuam for four or five years and felt sorry that the facts of Japanese soldiers were getting lost in the minds of old persons. This lead to the construction of the museum later.

We visited here in 2009, and I heard that a new building has been opened already as "THAILAND-JAPAN FRIENDSHIP MEMORIAL".
At first, I didn't know there was a this kind of museum in Mae Hong Son but my wife checked beforehand for me and we dropped by here on the way to Mae Hong Son from Chiang Mai. Thanks. :D
It's in Japanese and a little in English but if you are interested, check the url below:

Khun Yuam WW2 Japanese War Museum
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~thai/index.html

Peaceful country scenery on the way from Chiang Mai.	Peaceful country scenery on the way from Chiang Mai.	Peaceful country scenery on the way from Chiang Mai.
Peaceful country scenery on the way from Chiang Mai.

The appearance of the museum. I heard a new building was opened in 2012.		Scenery of the site of the museum.
The appearance of the museum. I heard a new building was opened in 2012.

Broken cars displayed outside, exposed to the rain. It's a jeep.
Exhibits outside of the museum Broken cars displayed outside, exposed to the rain. It's a jeep.
Broken cars displayed outside, exposed to the rain. They also are jeeps ?
Exhibits outside of the museum Broken cars displayed outside, exposed to the rain. They also are jeeps ?
Broken cars displayed outside, exposed to the rain. Truck ?
Exhibits outside of the museum Broken cars displayed outside, exposed to the rain. Truck ?

[Khun Yuam WW2 Museum] Let's tour inside of the museum

There are many exhibits inside of the museum such as pictures in those days, rifles, coats and bags that Japanese soldiers used, and old bank notes.
Some pictures show the relationship between local people and Japanese soldiers around that time was very good.

They explain the museum in videos.	A poem by Yujiro Iwaki, a scholar of Thai literature is shown on the wall.	They are old Thai bank notes.
Videos They explain the museum in videos.	A poem by Yujiro Iwaki, a scholar of Thai literature is shown on the wall.	Old bank notes They are old Thai bank notes.

The Imperial rescript of declaration of war against the United States and England (in the center of the picture) .	The Imperial rescript of declaration of war against the United States and England.
National flag and the Imperial rescript of declaration of war The Imperial rescript of declaration of war against the United States and England (in the center of the picture) .
A lot of pictures in those days and items are displayed.	A lot of pictures in those days and items are displayed.
Inside of the museum A lot of pictures in those days and items are displayed.
Villagers sold something to Japanese soldiers. The items in front of the picture are extinguishing fire tools .. ?	Is this a portable cannon ? The picture below shows they enjoy bananas ?
Villagers sold something to Japanese soldiers. The items in front of the picture are extinguishing fire tools .. ?	Is this a portable cannon ? The picture below shows they enjoy bananas ?

Coats that Japanese soldiers used.	They are wallets and bags.	Rifles that Japanese soldiers used.
Coats that Japanese soldiers used.	They are wallets and bags.	Rifles that Japanese soldiers used.

The fact is explained in Japanese that the local people in this area took good care of Japanese soldiers who retreated from their disastrous defeat at the Battle of Imphal.
Explained in Japanese The fact is explained in Japanese that the local people in this area took good care of Japanese soldiers who retreated from their disastrous defeat at the Battle of Imphal.
The explanation of Yujiro Iwaki prize foundation. It looks like they have Japanese language education.	Soldiers with local people. Telescopes in front of the picture.
The explanation of Yujiro Iwaki prize foundation. It looks like they have Japanese language education.	Soldiers with local people. Telescopes in front of the picture.

Buckets, tires and so on.	Various parts.	They are rifles.
Buckets, tires and so on.	Various parts.	They are rifles.

If you are interested in Mae Hong Son, check out the Mae Hong Son top page for other spots !

Khun Yuam WW2 Japanese War Museum (in Japanese and a little in English)
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~thai/index.html
Battle of Imphal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Imphal

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