Overview
- Kanagawa Dental University extracted DNA from hair kept with unidentified remains and matched it to the profile of Kajiyama’s 91-year-old sister.
- The hair and ashes were stored at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park under the misrecorded name Michiko Kajiyama, which the family flagged to the city.
- Nephew Shuji Kajiyama requested the analysis after noticing the registry entry, and officials contacted him on December 13 to validate the results.
- Hiroshima says it will offer DNA testing of preserved hair in other urns if families ask, noting roughly 70,000 unclaimed ashes and hair samples in about 10 urns.
- Relatives plan to apply for the return of Hatsue’s remains, which the nephew expects to receive early next year.