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ideas were "radical" for the time, and if known by the Kenpeitai, he would not have
been left alone.[57] In a note, he wrote to a journalist just before his mission that he
was greatly honored to be chosen as a Kamikaze pilot.[58 ]Yet he also wrote, thinking
logically with the skills he had gained in college. He believed in democracy. He believed
that the victory of democracy was obvious, and although fascism would make the
country appear to be prosperous temporarily, only decline would wait for it. He
mentioned the fact that Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany had been defeated, and that the
power of "Freedom" will appear in history. He says that if his ideas were correct, it
would be a tragedy for the nation but that he would be happy. In the end of the note he
wrote:
Tomorrow, one believer in democracy will leave this world. He may look
lonely, but his heart is filled with satisfaction.
Second Lieutenant Uehara believed that he would not go to Yasukuni Shrine, but go to
heaven where he would be able to meet his brother and the girl he loved, who died
earlier.[59]
Second Lieutenant Toshio Anazawa was engaged. Yet being chosen for such a mission
that [engagement] was to be canceled. He wrote in his last letter to her all the
thankfulness he felt for her and her family. He tells her that he does not want her to
reflect on the time they had spent together.[60] He wrote:
As an engaged man, as a man to go, I would like to say a little to you, a
lady before I go.
I only wish your happiness.
Do not mind the past. You are not to live in the past.
Have the courage and forget the past. You are to create a new future.
You are to live from moment to moment in the reality. Anazawa no longer
exists in the reality.[61]
Unlike the first two letters, which contained the words, "I have no nostalgic emotions,"
he wrote: "It's too late now, but I would like to say some of my wishes."
He then listed the books he wanted to read, what he wanted to see, what he wanted to
listen to, and that he was eager to see her, and to talk to her.[62]
The last three writings probably spoke for themselves and require no further
explanation. They just made clearer the different ways of thought the college students
had from the others who attended military school.
Not only in writing had the thoughts of the pilots appeared. In actions, and in speeches
too were the emotions visible. Corporal Mineyoshi Takahashi, according to Mr. Yasuo
Takahashi, his older brother, had changed since entering military school, and his
attitude in talking with Mr. Takahashi was not as it used to be.[63] (The way Mr. Y.
Takahashi explained the differences before and after Mineyoshi joined the military was
similar to the way Mr. S. Araki had explained Yukio's changes.) He remembers that
the last time they met, he took Corporal Takahashi into the ship he was working in.
Suddenly, Corporal Takahashi had asked his brother: "Which part of the ship is the
weakest?" Mr. Takahashi remembers that he was extremely surprised, but pointed to
the place which he knew was the weakest.[64]
This reveals that Corporal Takahashi was thinking of his mission rather calmly. He had
asked the question, probably thinking of which part of the ship he should drive his plane
into.[65]
Corporal Takamasa Senda before his departure had been singing many songs with
children, and at times, sat quietly alone, burning old letters in an expression of deep
thought. The last night, he looked up at the stars and said, "You are lucky, this will be
the last time I see the stars...I wonder how my mother is doing...."[66] His singing with
the children was probably to forget the coming mission, and his burning the letters was
to forget the past. Saying that he wanted to be able to see the stars again is an
indication that he wanted to live.
Whether patriotism was the answer to the way they felt can be doubted in the case of
Second Lieutenant Fumihiro Mitsuyama. His real name was Tak Kyong-Hyong.[67]
He was Korean, but like other Japanese men, he too was sent to war, and was chosen
as a Kamikaze pilot. The last evening before his mission, he went to the cafeteria
appointed by the Army, which was run by a lady, Mrs. Tome Torihama, who was
called "Okasan" (mother) by the young Kamikaze pilots of Chiran Air Base. He went
up to her and said, "I will sing you a song of my country," and sang Ariran. By the
second verse he was in tears.[68] Because he was a graduate of college, he had not
volunteered willingly but was probably pressured to circle "desire earnestly" in the
survey, especially being a Korean.
According to survivors, all say that they felt quite calm, and normal. They were not
scared of death but were happy that the day had finally come.[69] Mr. Itatsu was a
pilot who had departed for the mission but because his engine had stopped on the way,
his plane fell into the sea, and he survived.[70] He says that he remembers being happy
when he was chosen for the mission.[71] He said that the young people then who had
gone into military schools did not have the ability to think logically, and therefore sent
applications without much thought. He also says that these pilots were really innocent,
and thought purely that they would be able to serve, and protect the country.[72] An
author and a critic, Tadao Morimoto said in a T.V. program that he believes that it was
not true that they were happy to die for the country.[73] Mr. Itatsu says that he
disagrees with him because some young and innocent pilots died believing they could
become happy dying that way.[74] Since Mr. Itatsu was one of the Kamikaze pilots
himself, his comments should be given more credibility than the comments made by
Tadao Morimoto who had been an officer in the Navy during the war, but was not
involved with the Kamikaze attacks himself.
Kiichi Matsuura, the author of the book Showa wa Toku (Showa Far Away) wrote
that he recalls the first planned date of the mission was like every other day, and no
special conversation took place. When he found that his aircraft would not function
properly, he suddenly felt the strong urge to live. His aircraft not functioning implied that
he would not die. Realizing that, he could only think of living. On his second "chance"
his plane was fine halfway. He was with two other pilots, and seeing one of them sink
into the sea, realized a problem in all their engines. The two returned. He recalls that
until the moment they decided to return, he was not at all scared, because they were
flying toward death. However, returning was frightening. He had to protect his life from
death.[75]
Finally, in an interview with a member of the Self Defense Force, Mr. Matsunaga, a
word which held the key to a better understanding was mentioned. The word was
"decision." To the question, "If something happened, would you not be afraid?" he
answered that it was his decision to enter such a world, and that he would not escape if
anything did occur.[76] Similarly, although it was with far more psychological pressure,
all the Kamikaze pilots had made the decision.
Conclusion
The pilots were, as a matter of fact, not radical nor extremely patriotic, but were the
average Japanese of the time. It was a dream for the young boys of late Taisho period
and early Showa to serve in the military, especially in the Air Force, as a career. Not all
pilots who wanted to become Kamikaze pilots could become one. Although this may
sound strange, there were so many volunteers to make the suicidal and fatal attacks,
that the military, to be fair, had to let the ones with the better grades go earlier. Because
of the aura that had covered Japan, the young pilots of 18 and 19 were eager to go.
Those of the Special Flight Officer Probationary Cadets who had their own thoughts
like Second lieutenants Suzuki, Uehara, and Anazawa were able to separate their
personal life from what was required of them to do for the war. They felt the
responsibility to go.
How exactly the pilots felt about the attacks could not be known but it seems that they
were, in general, happy that they could serve the country, but had other thoughts
towards death. Because the brainwashing done on the pilots trained in military schools
was so effective, it changed the priority of 'life, then country,' the other way around.
Life was made, by the atmosphere and education of the time, to be not the first priority,
but something that must be given up for the first priority, the Emperor and the country.
If they believed that ever-lasting happiness would follow their mission, there was
nothing for them to fear. Those who were not brainwashed (the college graduates) may
have felt fear. If they were able to detach themselves totally from life, they might have
felt better. Yet is detaching oneself from life really possible?
In any case, it seems that they were all optimistic. They volunteered, believing their
death might save their family, the ones they loved, and Japan. However, as a student
investigating fifty years after the events, it was not possible for me to understand exactly
how the pilots had felt towards their mission.
Appendix One
The Different Pilots' Training Schools in The Imperial Army Where the Kamikaze Pilots
Were Trained
The Youth Pilot Training School
The students who had graduated from the Youth Pilot Training schools had the
best flying skills of the Imperial Army. This schooling system had begun in 1933,
and lasted until the end of the Pacific War. The age range that was accepted into
this school was between 14 and 17. Originally, the time spent in the school was
three years. One year of general education in Tokyo and two years of
specialized education in various parts of Japan. However, by the end of the war,
the students of the 15th term were trained in only a year and 8 months and were
made into soldiers just in time for the Okinawa Tokko.
Candidates for Second Lieutenant
Non-commissioned officers whose excellence was recognized were educated in
the Air Corps Academy. Because of their experience and career, their skill was
of a high level.
Imperial Army Air Corps Academy
Students who had completed the four-year course of Middle School or the
Higher Elementary School took an examination to enter. They became civil
servants who had decided to work in the Army. Graduates of the 56th and 57th
term were involved in the Okinawa Tokko.
Pilot Trainee
The pilot trainees had to have a pilot's license, and had to be an Officer
Candidate. After one month in a squadron, they received six months of flight
training in the Imperial Army Air Corps Academy of Kumagaya, and after six
months as probationary Officer, became Second Lieutenants. Among the
students of the Ninth term, there were graduates of the Higher Pilot training
schools.
Flight Officer Candidates
Officer candidates consisted of drafted men with at least Middle School
education. After four months of preliminary education, a test was taken. If they
passed the test, they received the required education for officers, and if found fit
for the position were ranked as Higher Officer Candidates. After serving as
probationary officers, they were ranked as Second Lieutenants. If they were not
found fit as an officer, they became the Lower Officer Candidates and became
non-commissioned officers. Those who had the interest in flying received training
with the Special Flight Officer Probationary Cadet in the Imperial Air Corps
Academy. The students of the 7th, 8th, and 9th term were involved in the
Okinawa Tokko.
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