Photographer Phan Quang has captured the stories of Vietnamese-Japanese families, born from marriages between Japanese soldiers and Vietnamese women during World War II. These families have faced social hardships and the lifelong absence of their fathers.

A Hidden History

Phan’s project, ‘Re/cover,’ aims to tell the stories of these families, who have been largely overlooked by history. The photographer spent years tracking down the families and earning their trust, despite the sensitive nature of the topic.

The families’ stories are marked by struggle and resilience. Many of the Japanese soldiers who married Vietnamese women were looked down upon by their peers, while their wives and children were stigmatized for carrying the bloodline of a former occupying force.

A Symbol of Love and Silence

Phan’s photographs feature the families draped in a white veil, a symbol of matrimony and silence. The veil represents the families’ hidden history and their struggles to find their place in society.

One of the families featured in the project is that of Lê Thị Xuân and Yoshiharu Shimizu, who had two sons and one daughter. Despite being separated for many years, the family remained devoted to each other, with Xuân preserving her husband’s belongings for decades.

Phan’s project has sparked important conversations about the experiences of these families and the need for recognition and reconciliation. The photographer hopes that his work will help to bring about a deeper understanding of the complexities of war and its lasting impact on families and communities.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.