At the very end of World War II, after the end of hostilities in Europe, the Soviet Union sent its troops to Manchuria to help the Americans. Observing its allied obligations, in August 1945, the Red Army defeated the remnants of the Japanese troops during an offensive operation. The defeat of the Kwantung Army became the point in forcing militaristic Japan to peace. As a result of these events, more than a million Japanese soldiers and officers were taken prisoner by the Soviet Union.
Japanese prisoners of war were held in special camps until the early years of the 1950s. Since Japan was an ally of Nazi Germany in the war, its prisoners of war were also forced to labor reparations: the restoration of the national economy of the Soviet Union. The Japanese were used in construction work, as well as in the extraction of resources. A number of aspects in the behavior of Japanese prisoners of war surprised Soviet citizens, including pleasantly.
1. Discipline
There were much fewer problems with Japanese prisoners of war in the camps than with the Germans, Hungarians and Italians. First of all, because the descendants of the samurai were qualitatively different in the level of discipline. Even in captivity, the Japanese continued to obey their officers, which greatly facilitated the work of the camp administration and overseers.
2. Cleanliness
Contrary to popular misconception, hygiene was monitored in Soviet camps. Of course, there was no daily relaxing shower for the prisoners, but once a week the entire contingent was taken to the bathhouse, doctors and orderlies worked in the camps. Despite the fact that washing both in the camp and in the army is not an offer, but an order, the Japanese pleasantly surprised Soviet citizens with an incredible craving for cleanliness. Even being captured, many Japanese tried to be as clean and tidy as possible.
3. How to mix food
Japanese prisoners of war surprised Soviet guards with a very strange manner of mixing almost all the food offered to them in one bowl. For Soviet citizens, this was not very clear, but the Japanese did this for two reasons. First, mixing is one of the pillars of Japanese cuisine. Secondly, the Japanese did not really like the porridge and rice that they were offered.
4. Self esteem
The first post-war years in the USSR were hungry. Holodomor did not happen in the country, thanks to the developed system of food security, however, the problems with malnutrition were the most serious. Of course, prisoners and prisoners were fed on a leftover basis, since there was not enough for ordinary Soviet citizens. The Japanese surprised the camp administration by the fact that they were much less likely to beg for food, including from local residents during work. In addition, in the Japanese collectives there were much less cases of theft of food from comrades, compared with other prisoners of the "Axis". However, since Japan did not officially attack the USSR after 1941, the “samurai” were fed somewhat better.
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5. Labor culture
For obvious reasons, there is traditionally a high level of labor alienation among prisoners, including prisoners of war. In any case, it is guaranteed to be higher than that of free people. The Japanese were an exception in this respect. Most of the prisoners, including officers, always conscientiously treated even the most difficult and unpleasant work that the Soviet state entrusted them with as part of the campaign to restore the economy.
Continuing the topic, read about how Germany caused billions of damage to the USSR in World War II: why she didn't pay reparations.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/160421/58625/
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