Japan group arriving for ‘peace cycle’

ANGELES CITY – At least 20 Japanese nationals are expected to arrive on Feb. 15 for a "peace cycle," an annual pilgrimage on bicycles in countries were the Japanese Imperial forces committed "atrocities" during World War II.

The cyclists, composed of Japanese workers and students, plan to traverse the route of the infamous Death March from Mariveles, Bataan to Camp O’Donnel in Capas, Tarlac in April 1942, immediately after the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

Primo Amparo of Maka-bayan, a local group coordinating with the Japanese group, said Filipino war veterans and so-called "comfort women" will welcome the cyclists during their stopovers from Marivales to Capas. — Ding Cervantes, Ric Sapnu