Since the end of the First World War, the then constituted independent Czechoslovakia has had links to Japan in the military domain. Czechoslovak legionnaires, as members of the Czechoslovak legions called themselves, not only fought in uniforms sewn in Japan, but after their long and successful mission in Russia where they fought bolshevik regime, they were transferred through Japan on their way back to Europe. Some of them died and are buried in the Japanese soil. A special exhibition, opened by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tokyo in collaboration with the Czech Center on 11 November 2015, illustrates this history. The exhibition, called „Czechoslovak legions and the formation of Czechoslovakia“, was prepared in the Czech Republic by joint efforts of  the Ministry of Defence, the Institute of Military History and the Central Military Archive. The objective of the exhibition is to get not only Japanese visitors, but also the Czech public acquainted with principal historical moments connected with the history of the First World War, formation of the Czechoslovak military force and the ensuing constitution of the independent Czechoslovakia. The exhibition maps the life and activities of Czechoslovak legionnaires using photographs from military archives.

The exhibition "Czechoslovak legions and the formation of Czechoslovakia“

The exhibition was opened in presence of Maj Gen Rostislav Pilc, chief of the Military Office of the President of the Czech Republic, who conveyed President’s greetings to visitors of the exhibition. Prof. Susumu Nagayo of Waseda University gave a very interesting lecture on the historical military links between the two nations and commented the shown documentary on the Czechoslovak legions. The exhibition elicited very positive reactions of the public, both lay and professional. The extent of the covered topics was particularly appreciated as well as the publication of interesting details from the presence of Czechoslovak legionnaires in Japan.