Cruise of Death:

The True Story of the Oryoku Maru Hellship

This video takes you on a journey through one of the most brutal and tragic events of World War II - the Japanese hell ships. The Oryoku Maru was one of many prison ships used by the Japanese to transport American POWs from Manila to Japan, and the conditions on board were nothing short of inhumane. Through a combination of present-day footage and historical photos and videos, we will take a closer look at the 49 days of suffering that these men endured, including starvation, disease, suffocation, and murder at the hands of the Japanese. You will learn about the little-known story of the Oryoku Maru, where only 300 American prisoners emerged alive from the more than 1,600 that started this fateful voyage. This video is a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during war and a tribute to the courage and resilience of those who survived.