OTTAWA, On. —  The Canadian War Museum — Canada’s national museum of military history — launched an online exhibition yesterday entitled “Canada at War Against Japan, 1941-1945.” The exhibition’s opening helps commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII on August 15 and explores the war with Japan, as well as its impact on the Canadian home front.

The exhibition showcases the Battle of Hong Kong, along with painful stories of Canadians in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. In addition, the exhibition sheds light on the racism towards Japanese Canadians during the era — leading to their forced relocation.

“Canada’s contributions to the war against Japan are often overshadowed by Canadian participation in the Allied campaigns against Germany and Italy,” said Caroline Dromaguet, acting director general of the Canadian War Museum. “The Battle of Hong Kong was a particularly difficult loss, resulting in tremendous hardship for Canadians who became prisoners of war. The war also, however, led to a tragic miscarriage of justice for Japanese Canadians here at home.”

15 key images, 6 maps, informative texts and first-hand accounts allow virtual visitors to learn not only about the war against Japan, but also campaigns in the Aleutian Islands, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The exhibition also explores the service of Chinese Canadians in Asia.

To explore the online exhibition, go to warmuseum.ca/war-against-japan.