A 92-year-old veteran of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) is still searching for his Japanese love, from whom he has been separated for 69 years, Xiaoshan Daily in Hangzhou reported.

Zhou Fukang joined the army when he was 17 years old. He fought in a battle to protect Fuzhou, Fujian province.

Zhou was transferred to Taiwan before the war ended in 1945. After Japan surrendered, he returned to the Chinese mainland with his army.

Zhou, who has no children, now supports himself by collecting and selling waste. He is still searching for his Japanese love, whom he has never forgotten.

On Chinese social networking websites are photos of him holding a paper with the Japanese name of his love.

Zhou met his love in Taiwan, where she was a primary school teacher. They fell in love but were forced to separate because Zhou had to return to the Chinese mainland after the war ended.

"My whole life is very happy, just thinking of my time with her," Zhou told Xiaoshan Daily.

Zhou is among the 12 living veterans of the war who is in Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou. The local government and volunteers have helped Zhou improve his living conditions.

suzhou@chinadaily.com.cn