 |
FAQ(Frequently asked questions concerning Malay Peninsula Peace Cycle)
■ General Questions
 ■ Questions about Bicycles
■ Questions about Past MPPC’s
■ General Questions & Answers
Q: General Questions & Answers
A: Malay Peninsula Peace Cycle is the Malay Peninsula version of Peace Cycle or a peace rally being held in Japan. We have pedaled along Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. MPPC is a trip tracing the route which the notorious bicycle troops of the Imperial Japanese Army invaded in the wartime.
>Page top
Q: What is MPPC?
A: MPPC is the abbreviation of Malay Peninsula Peace Cycle. It has rallied along Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, intending to atone Chinese people and Allied prisoners of war who were victimized by Imperial Japanese Army at the sites, pursuing reconciliation with people concerned, as well as to report back historical facts of the war to Japan.
>Page top
Q: What kind of group is organizing Malay Peninsula Peace Cycle?
A: MPPC is a loose gathering of diverse people who get together for each leg, and break up after respective trip is finished. We do not have permanent membership.>Page top
Q: What kind of people is promoting Malay Peninsula Peace Cycle?
A: In the past, diverse walks of people from Hokkaido to Hiroshima, ranging from college students to folks of over 80 joined MPPC.>Page top
Q: Can anybody join Malay Peninsula Peace Cycle?
A: Yes, anybody who agrees with purposes of MPPC can join.>Page top
Q: Does not Malay Peninsula Peace Cycle cover areas other than Thai, Malaysia and Singapore?
A: We have not decided so. We do desire to trip Myanmar and Cambodia for instance, but in reality it has been rather difficult to travel these places due to some limitations according to our investigations so far.>Page top
Q: How much is the participation fee to MPPC?
A: The participation fee had been up to Yen250,000 per head, fluctuating each time. This includes round trip air fare, accommodations, all the meals, first drinks, expenses for an accompanying coach (bus) and a truck (lorry), interpreter’s fee, as well as expenses to publish memorial pamphlet afterwards. It does not include transportation fees between individual home and respective airport, accommodation near a departing airport when necessary. We provide special deduction for college students and younger.>Page top
Q: What is the calculation basis of the participation fee?
A: The participation fee has been calculated by dividing total estimated expenses based on the past experiences. It does not include any profit for MPPC. >Page top
Q: Are the participants to pay all the relevant expenses?
A: Yes, all the expenses are to be paid by each and all the participants. Everything should be borne by the participants. If and when there is a surplus balance, that will be allocated to communication fees with the participants afterwards, and initial fund for the following leg, as in the past.>Page top
Q: Is a passport necessary to join MPPC?
A: Yes, you need to have a valid passport. Without a passport, you cannot depart Japan nor cannot enter into the destination country. The passport should be valid for at least 60 days when you enter the destination country.>Page top
Q: Is a visa necessary to join MPPC?
A: No, visa is unnecessary as far as you travel Thai, Malaysia and Singapore with limited days of stay.>Page top
Q: How do I get my passport?
A: Apply at a nearby passport counter of respective prefectural government. You can have the passport within a week after your application. Necessary documents etc., are as follows;
/Application form (blank forms are available in the counters)
/Official copy of your family register
/Certificate of residence
Your portrait photo (45mm x 35mm. Be careful for recent amendment of very detailed rule for the size of your face)
/Any document that proves your identity
/Application fee is; Yen16,000 for 10 year passport, and Yen11,000 for 5 years.
>Page top
Q: What are recommended clothes in visiting countries?
A: Climates in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore throughout a year are similar to the mid-summer of Japan. For recommended clothes, see pictures of participants in this home-page, and memorial pamphlets covering the past trips.>Page top
Q: What class of accommodations is provided in visiting countries?
A: We have been staying in 3-4 star hotels in the past. For instance in Singapore, our favorite hotel is Peninsula, Coleman Street, which is quite close to the War Memorial, and 3 minute walk to the City Hall Station of MRT.
>Page top
Q: I want to join MPPC, but a bit reluctant because not knowledgeable about Japanese military activities in Malay Peninsula.
A: There are many books that describe IJA’s Malaya Operation. You can also have rough idea if you read memorial pamphlets that cover past trips of MPPC. However, you would be most motivated to read these materials after you join MPPC and directly learn firsthand information in the concerned sites.>Page top
Q: What is the main schedule of the next 8th leg of Malay Peninsula Peace Cycle?
A: We plan to have 8MPPC in February 2010 mostly in the main island of Singapore. We will take part in the annual ceremony of War Memorial on February 15 (Monday), and visit other important places including cenotaphs of Chinese victims, memorial plaques showing IJA’s landing points, British defense forts, old Ford Factory where British troop surrendered to IJA, etc. This is the first time for MPPC to schedule visiting places mainly in Singapore. We will visit Johor Bahru, the southern part of Malaysia for the first 2 and half days. For more details, see the Invitation to 8MPPC corner.>Page top
Q: Is there any idea after 8MPPC?
A: So far we have no definite plan after 8MPPC. According to our past survey, it has been considered infeasible to have another MPPC rallies in Prachuap Khirikhan and Chumphon, Thailand, where IJA landed, and from Siemreab to the border town Poipet, Cambodia (the land route that the Imperial Guard Division invaded) due to transportation limitations. We think it prudent to avoid a route along Thai-Burma Railway in Myanmar for the time being, due to unstable situation there. Trekking along Thai-Burma Railway in Thai part as some people suggests cannot be a MPPC trip by definition. Sumatra, Java, as well as Borneo (Kalimantan) would be potential candidates in future. We wish that an attractive plan would emerge sooner or later. (Other Peace Cycle groups have been running in PRC, Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines).>Page top
■ About Bicycles Q&A
Q: Cannot I join Malay Peninsula Peace Cycle without riding a bicycle?
A: Yes, you can join without a bicycle. Each time we provide an accompanying bus, which you can ride all the way without bicycles. The bus is provided to pick up those cyclists who retire to ride on the way.
>Page top
Q: Am I supposed to bring my bicycle from home?
A: Yes, you are supposed to bring your bicycle from your home. You have to dismantle the front and rear wheels, pack every parts up, and carry as baggage. Normally, when total weight of your baggage including a suitcase is up to 20kg, you would not be charged additional fare.>Page top
Q: Does any type of bicycle suit for MPPC?
A: We are afraid no. Recommended bicycle types are the ones you can easily dismantle front and rear wheels such as road racer, touring, and mountain bike.>Page top
Q: Is a folding type bicycle appropriate?
A: We discourage you to bring a folding type bicycle with wheels of around 20 inch diameter. You can instantly pack it up, but you need much energy to pedal it because of the small diameter. The most recommended sizes of the wheels range from 24 to 26 inches.>Page top
Q: Is a shopping type bicycle appropriate?
A: We discourage you to bring a shopping type bicycle. First, it is difficult to dismantle the wheels and difficult to carry from home. You need much energy to pedal it at a speed of around 20km/hr, even if you buy or rent a one locally.>Page top
Q: How do I pack up my bicycle?
A: First you dismantle the front and rear wheels. Put them in a special bag together with the main frame and other parts. In order to protect the bicycle from an accidental shock, we recommend you to wrap them up with an air cushion sheet before closing the outer bag.>Page top
Q: It must be tiresome to bring the packed bicycle from home to the airport.
A: You can have the bicycle delivered to the airport from home, if you think it tiresome to bring by yourself. You can further book the return delivery when collecting it at the airport.
>Page top
Q: How fast do you pedal bicycles in MPPC?
A: Our practice being to adjust with the slowest cyclist, the speed is normally around 20km/hr on a flat and non-bustling road.>Page top
Q: How far do you ride bicycles in a day?
A: It largely depends on the itinerary and/or specific course, ranging from 20 to 70 km a day. It will not exceed 100km at the longest.>Page top
Q: How do I do with my bicycle when not riding it?
A: We load bicycles on an accompanying truck when not riding on them. The truck is used to load bicycles when got punctured or the like, until fixed. We also load bicycles on it in areas of heavy traffic, long steep road, and on highways, while cyclists on the bus. In other words, MPPC is always a motorcade lead by cyclists, followed by a bus and a truck.
>Page top
Q: How do I have my bicycle fixed when it gets troubled like puncture?
A: A semi-professional member would fix your puncture on the spot, which is an inevitable light occurrence with MPPC. We can fix off-the-gear chain as well.
>Page top
Q: Can I rent a bicycle locally?
A: Yes, you can if there is such a rental bike shop in that area. With 8MPPC, there are rental bike shops in the east coast and in Sentosa island.
>Page top
■ About Past MPPC’s Q&A
Q: Who did you make contacts with in the past MPPC in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore?
A: Each itinerary being designed by MPPC, we have made contacts with diverse groups and individuals in visiting countries. In Thailand, we made courtesy calls on provincial governments, and listened to first hand witnesses of some people arranged by them. In Malaysia, Chinese Assembly Halls (sort of Chinese clubs) of various cities had accepted our visits, and in Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry did the same.
>Page top
Q: What languages do you use when to talk with local people?
A: Official tour guides have been the ones to translate between Thai/Chinese and Japanese. As far as English is concerned, MPPC can play that role.
>Page top
Q: Didn’t local people get embarrassed if you march with bicycles, the same transportation means with the notorious bicycle troops of the Imperial Japanese Army when they invaded Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore?
A: We did worry about such possibility in the very beginning, which turned out to be a groundless fear. Wherever we visited, MPPC was warmly welcomed by local people, as we had scrupulously informed intention of the trip beforehand, and had preparatory study sessions. Local media including newspapers also favorably reported our trips.
>Page top
Q: Have you not encountered any traffic accident in the past MPPC?
A: No, luckily we have not in the past legs of MPPC. However, in order to hedge a risk of such accident, we strongly recommend you to buy overseas travel insurance. Though we arrange air tickets and hotel booking on your behalf, MPPC being not a travel agency, you are responsible to all your activities during the trip individually.
>Page top
Q: Is there any publications that record the past MPPC activities?
A: Yes, we have. For each leg of MPPC, we have published memorial pamphlet covering that trip. Back numbers for all the 7 legs are available at \500 plus postal fee. Those who want to buy the copy should make contact with the following;
ONOGI Yoshiyuki
4-20-5, Tennodai, Abikoshi, Chibaken
E-mail: yonogi@jcom.home.ne.jp
>Page top
Q: How was the 7th leg of MPPC?
A: 7th leg of MPPC was a 10 day trip from Penang island to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during November 9 (Fri) through November 18 (Sun), 2007. Taking part in the annual ceremony of Penang Cenotaph that starts at 11 minutes past 11am, on November 11, we made other itinerary around this date. Tracing mostly the course of 3MPPC, we added Sungai Petani, a 50km north town to Penang in order to supplement insufficient visit there in 2MPPC. We also visited several cenotaphs in southern part of Perak with a kind guide of local people, where we passed by train in 2MPPC since we did not have information of such cenotaphs then. The local people warmly welcomed us, as we were the first Japanese who visited the cenotaphs. For more details, see here.
>Page top
Q: How was the 6th leg of MPPC?
A: In 6th leg of MPPC we ran along Thai-Burma Railway in Kanchanaburi, western province to Bangkok, Thailand from November 19 (Sat) through November 24 (Thu), 2005. This was a repeat trip of the first leg of 1994, adding this time a long trip to the border with Myanmar or Three Pagoda Pass, where once Thai-Burma Railway stretched. Some members of Thai Cycling Club ran with us, just as in 1st leg of MPPC or TBPC. Prof. UTSUMI Aiko (Keisen University), and Prof. TAKASHIMA Nobuyoshi (University of the Ryukyus) were among other members, that enabled us to listen to their invaluable lectures during the trip. We found for the first time in the world, except local people, the model of the Bridge on the River Kwai. We also visited a newly opened Museum of Seri Thai (Free Thai) Movement in Bangkok. It was the anti-Japanese movement shouldered by Thai ambassador to the US, scholarship students in the US and UK, as well as government officials and citizens in Thailand during the wartime, which largely affected the postwar politics there. For more information, see here.
>Page top
Q: How was the 5th leg of MPPC?
A: 5MPPC was the reopen version of the once completed MPPC with its 4 legs. It was from February 8 (Sat) through February 16 (Sun), 2003, running Kota Bahru, northeastern town of Malaysia, and then flying to Kuala Lumpur (KL) and running south down to Singapore, taking part in the annual ceremony in front of the War Memorial of February 15. Kota Bahru is the town where Takumi Detachment, IJA, landed on December 8, 1941 earlier than the Pearl Harbor attack, fighting against the British Indian defense troops in pillboxes, and established bridgehead in the peninsula while many soldiers lost their lives. We could see some remnants of the battle. It was also a town where Chinese people were massacred, which cenotaphs we visited in a suburb. The route from KL to Singapore being a repeat of 4MPPC, we skipped Kuala Lumpur this time, and visited several cenotaphs in Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor. For details, see here.
>Page top
Q: How was the 4th leg of MPPC?
A: 4MPPC was from October 7 (Sat) through October 17 (Tue), 2000, starting from Kuala Lumpur (KL), and visiting various cenotaphs in Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, and then crossing the Causeway Bridge from Johor Bahru to Singapore by bicycles. In Singapore we had our own memorial service at the War Memorial. Ms. Elizabeth Choy (1910-2006) witnessed for us her survival story of Double Tenth Incident (arrest by false charge and torture). One feature of 4MPPC was its diverse participation, including 3 from Bangkok (1 of them being Japanese) and 1 Thai from Texas. With this trip, the original plan of MPPC was fully accomplished. Detailed report is under construction.>Page top
Q: How was the 3rd leg of MPPC?
A: 3MPPC was from November 8 (Sun) through October 16 (Mon), 1998, between Penang and Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia. We arranged the itinerary around the annual ceremony of Penang Cenotaph held at 11 minutes past 11am, on November 11. Visited a cenotaph of Chinese victims in Butterworth, the opposite shore to Penang, and in Taiping. Rode train from Ipoh to KL, and visited Negeri Sembilan which would have been a course of 4mppc. Detailed information is yet to be finished.>Page top
Q: How was the 2nd leg of MPPC?
A: 2MPPC was from December 6 (Fri) through December 15 (Sun), 1996, starting by participating in the memorial service of the Thai military held in the dawn of December 8 at an airbase in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thai. This was to remember Thai soldiers who fought against invading IJA that sailed from Hainan Island, China. We also visited Songkhla and Pattani, another southern towns that IJA attacked surprisingly from the sea, and listened to some witnesses of the survivors. Crossing the border and entering into Malaysia by bicycles, we laid wreathes at Chinese victims cenotaphs in suburb of Jitra and Sungai Petani, etc, and reached Penang and Butterworth. Detailed report is coming soon.>Page top
Q: How was the 1st leg of MPPC?
A: The first leg of MPPC was also called Thai-Burma Railway Peace Cycle, held during November 26 (Sat) through December 8 (Sat), 1995, as an experimental bicycle trip for the coming MPPC trips, running along Thai-Burma Railway in Thailand up to Hell Fire Pass. About 50 members of Thai Cycling Club ran side by side with us. In Kanchanaburi City, west to Bangkok, Mr. Trevor Dakin, a British ex-prisoner of war and Mr. NAGASE Takashi, an ex-interpreter to IJA, explained the war story as we bowed in the Commonwealth War Graves there. More information is under construction.>Page top
Q: Did you have a consol and friendship trip of Thai-Burma Railway?
A: Yes, we did with MPPC fellows from August 12 (Sat) through August 19 (Sat), 1995, mainly in Kanchanaburi without bicycles and hence not as a MPPC trip, at an invitation of Bangkok Post. This was to take part in the 50th anniversary ritual of the WWII held at the Commonwealth War Graves in the city, to which Mr. ABE Hiroshi, ex-platoon leader who lead the construction of Thai-Burma Railway joined. For detailed information, refer to the memorial pamphlet of 2MPPC.>Page top
|
|
|
|
