found alive after presumed and declared dead

A former Imperial Army soldier, who hasn't been seen by his Japanese family since he went off to fight in World War II and was declared among the war dead in 2000, has resurfaced in Ukraine and is returning to Japan to see his relatives after 60 years.

Ishinosuke Uwano, now 83, was expected to arrive in Japan on Wednesday, accompanied by his Ukrainian son, for 10 days with his surviving relatives in Iwate, said Suminori Arima, who is in charge of locating war veterans lost overseas for the Health and Welfare Ministry.

"It's wonderful that Mr. Uwano can make a homecoming visit in good health," Arima said. Arima declined to say exactly where Uwano had been for the past six decades, nor why he had not been in touch with his Japanese family in all that time.