‘Between Two Worlds’ at Ayala Museum Revisits a Japanese POW’s Philippine Diary from 80 Years Ago
In commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of Philippines–Japan Friendship, the Filipinas Heritage Library (FHL) presents Between Two Worlds: A Philippine Diary, 80 Years Ago—by Shinichi Komatsu, a free exhibition running from July 2 to August 16, 2026, at the Ayala Museum 2F Lobby.
IMAGE from Filipinas Heritage Library
Co-curated with Dr. Karl Ian Uy Cheng Chua and Shiko Komatsu, the exhibition centers on the richly illustrated visual diary of Shinichi Komatsu, a Japanese prisoner of war in the Philippines during World War II. Through his drawings and personal observations, the exhibition offers an intimate view of wartime life and encourages visitors to consider the human experiences behind the broader historical narrative.
Rather than viewing the conflict solely through national identities, Between Two Worlds invites audiences to reflect on the complexities of war and its lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities across different generations.
The exhibition draws from FHL’s Roderick Hall Collection on World War II in the Philippines, which includes Japanese-language materials that provide complementary perspectives on the country’s wartime history.
In conjunction with the exhibition, FHL will hold a ticketed talk at Ayala Museum. The Visual Art Representations of World War II in the Philippines: Different Perspectives of a Shared Tragedy, will be led by Ricardo Jose, PhD, on August 15, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The discussion will examine how visual art has interpreted the shared tragedy of World War II from varying viewpoints. Tickets may be reserved at https://bit.ly/fhl-talk-visual.
Tickets for the talk come with complimentary one-day access to the Filipinas Heritage Library, valid for use until one month after the respective event.
Presented with the support of the Toshiba International Foundation, the exhibition also coincides with significant milestones for its organizers, as the Filipinas Heritage Library celebrates its 30th anniversary and the Ayala Foundation marks its 65th anniversary.
Admission to Between Two Worlds is free. Visitors may view the exhibition at the Ayala Museum 2F Lobby until August 16, 2026.
