Mukaishima, Hiroshima

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Mukaishima (向島町, Mukaishima-chō^?) was a town located in Mitsugi District, Hiroshima, Japan. On March 28, 2005, Mukaishima was amalgamated into the city of Onomichi.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 16,283 and a density of 884.95 persons per km². The total area was 18.40 km².

From November 1942 until September 1945, 100 British POWs who had been brought to Japan on the Dainichi Maru hell ship were imprisoned in Mukaishima and forced to work at the Hitachi Zosen shipyard. 23 of these prisoners died due to a combination of disease, malnutrition and lack of adequate clothing (despite the harsh winter conditions). A further 116 American POWs were imprisoned in the same camp from September 1944.