Japanese WWII Prison

Arenibek, Nauru

---

During World War II, Japanese forces occupied Nauru from August 1942 to September 1945 and established a prison camp in the area of Arenibek.

This camp held prisoners considered enemies of the Japanese, with three isolated prison cells still remaining as historic evidence. The Japanese occupation was marked by harsh conditions, forced labor, and significant suffering for Nauruans, including deportations and atrocities such as the sinking of boats carrying leper patients.

The prison at Arenibek is part of several wartime remnants on the island, including tunnels and gun emplacements built by the Japanese as part of their defensive infrastructure. These relics reflect the difficult period of occupation before the island was liberated by Allied forces in 1945. The site stands as a somber reminder of the island’s wartime history and its impact on the local population.