It is a widely accepted historical fact that these prisoners were treated fairly and according to international conventions, as “fellow soldiers”.

[citation needed] It is well documented that in Camp Kurume it was allowed to organize various sport activities, musical concerts and theatre performances.

The prisoners’ work and skills contributed to the development of the local rubber industry which served as a basis for the now world-famous tyre manufacturer Bridgestone.

[5] Kurume was a garrison town for the Imperial Japanese Army and from 1922, a center for the rubber and chemical industries.

During World War II, on August 11 1945, and just a few days after the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Kurume air raid (consisting of 53 B-24 bombers operating from US airfields in Okinawa and using M76 incendiary bombs) left 212 people dead and much of the urban center destroyed.

[6] The city area continued to expand throughout the post-war period by annexing surrounding villages and towns.

[citation needed] Kurume has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 36 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Fukuoka 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

In terms of industry, the city is the birthplace of Bridgestone and is an important production base as the group's original plant remains located here.