Kazuo Nakamura, soldier who inspired 'The Burmese Harp' novel, dies

MAEBASHI, Japan, Dec. 20 Kyodo - Kazuo Nakamura, whose experience as a soldier in the Imperial Japanese Army was fictionalized in the novel ''The Burmese Harp,'' died Wednesday of old age, his family said Saturday. He was 92.

A native of Gunma Prefecture, Nakamura was conscripted and served in the Manila
and Burma campaigns during World War II. After Japan's defeat in Burma, now
called Myanmar, he and about 20 members of his unit visited camps of Japanese
prisoners, where they sang songs for them.
His experience was depicted in Michio Takeyama's novel ''Biruma no Tategoto
(The Burmese Harp)'' as the character of Pvt. Mizushima, a soldier in the
Imperial Japanese Army. The novel, published in 1948, was made into a film in
1956 and 1985.
After leaving military service, Nakamura served as the chief priest of Unshoji
temple in Gunma Prefecture. Nakamura also wrote the book ''Biruma no Mimikazari
(The Burmese Earring),'' based on his experience in Myanmar.
He died in a hospital in the village of Kawaba in Gunma Prefecture.