Hilmar Farid, the Director General for Culture at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, said the discovery could strengthen historical understanding for Japanese tourists visiting the region.
"They can come, learn, and understand that the impact of World War II reached even remote areas like Biak Numfor," he said.
He noted that the ministry has collaborated with the Japanese government and Biak Numfor district authorities since 2019 to resolve the fate of remains from the WWII era found in the region.
A joint technical team has been working since 2019 to excavate, identify, and repatriate the remains of Japanese soldiers in Papua and West Papua provinces. The nine remains were found during the team's latest mission on May 20–30.
The Ministry is discussing repatriation with Japanese authorities. However, Farid stated that the most likely option is to keep the remains at the Biak Numfor site.
"There are many cases worldwide where soldiers who died in foreign lands were buried there," Farid said.
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) will analyze and identify the remains to confirm they are Japanese soldiers. If not repatriated, they will be reinterred in Biak Numfor.
Fransisco Olla, a Biak Numfor district official, said the discovery is expected to bolster local tourism. He emphasized the emotional and historical connection the region has with Japan due to WWII, when at least 3,000 Japanese soldiers died there.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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