By Kirill Bulatov course: Cultural Diversit in the Modern World instructor: Leigh Rich
WHO BECAME KAMIKAZE PILOTS,
AND HOW DID THEY FEEL TOWARDS THEIR
SUICIDE MISSION?
Abstract
This extended essay is about the Kamikaze pilots who made suicideattacks from the air during the Pacific War. This paper aims to find who the pilotsreally were and how they felt about their suicide mission. The hypothesis for the researchwas that any pilot could become a Kamikaze pilot, and that the pilots probably feltscared, yet took the responsibility to carry out their mission.
Most of the investigations were made through primary sources. Sincethe Kamikaze attacks were made from bases in Kyushu, there are several museumsthere where information may be found. There, the actual letters and diaries thatthe pilots had left behind are displayed. Also, fifteen interviews with survivors of theattacks, relatives and other people related to the attacks were made. Since the Kamikazeattacks were made only fifty years ago, a great quantity of documents was available.
The time period in concern is from early 1944 to 1945, and the topicbeing the
Kamikaze pilots, and the region of research was within Japan, mainly
Kyushu.
The conclusion of this extended essay was that the pilots wereordinary, average young men of the time who volunteered, and that most felt that their dyingin such a mission would improve the war situation for the Japanese. However, exactly howthe pilots felt could not be fully understood by a student researching the topic fiftyyears after the actual attack.
In blossom today, then scattered:
Life is so like a delicate flower.
How can one expect the fragrance
To last for ever?
- Admiral Onishi Takijiro
Introduction
During World War II in the Pacific, there were pilots of the Japanese
Imperial Army and Navy who made suicide attacks, driving their planes todeliberately crash into carriers and battle-ships of the Allied forces. These were the pilotsknown as the
Kamikaze pilots. This essay focuses on how they felt about theirsuicide mission.
Because right-wing organizations have used the Kamikaze pilots as asymbol of a militaristic and extremely nationalistic Japan, the current Japaneserespond to the issue with ignorance and false stereotypes and with generally negative andunsympathetic remarks. The aim of this essay is to reveal the often unknown truthconcerning the pilots, and above all to give a clearer image as to who the pilotsreally were.
The hypothesis behind the question, "Who were the Kamikaze pilots andhow did they feel towards their suicide mission? "is that any pilot devoted to thecountry, who volunteered and was chosen felt scared, yet took the responsibility tocarry out his mission.
Part One
The death of Emperor Taisho may be the point when Japan had started tobecome the fascist state that it was during the Pacific War. Although themilitary had been active ever since the Jiji period (1867-1912) in wars such as the Sino-
Japanese War
(1894-1895), and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), it becameextremely active when Crown Prince Hirohito became Emperor Showa. Coup d'etats becamefrequent, and several political figures were assassinated. By Emperor Showa'sreign, the military had the real authority. [1]
According to those who have lived through the early Showa period (1926 -
1945), the presence of Emperor Showa was like that of a god and he was more of areligious figure than a political one. [2] In many of the haiku that the Kamikazepilots wrote, the
Emperor is mentioned in the first line.
Systematic and organized education made such efficient "brainwashing"possible. In public schools, students were taught to die for the emperor. By late
1944, a slogan of
Jusshi Reisho meaning "Sacrifice life," was taught. [3]
Most of the pilots who volunteered for the suicide attacks were thosewho were born late in the Taisho period (1912-1926) or in the first two or threeyears of Showa.
Therefore, they had gone through the brainwashing education, and wereproducts of the militaristic Japan.
Censorship brought restrictions on the Japanese people. The letters,diaries, and photographs of individual soldiers were all censored. Nothingrevealing where they were, or what they were doing concerning the military, could becommunicated. [4]
Major restrictions were placed on the press, radio and other media.
The public was not to be informed of defeats or damage on the Japanese side. Onlyvictories and damage imposed on the Allies were to be announced. [5]
Another factor that created the extreme atmosphere in Japan were the
"Kenpeitai," a part of the Imperial Army which checked on the civilians to see ifthey were saying or doing anything against the Emperor or the military. [6]
Since the time of feudalism, especially during the Tokugawa period, awarrior must follow the Bushido. This Code, and a culture which viewed suicide andthe death of young people as beautiful were factors contributing to the masssuicides. [7]
Part Two
Although it was only from 1944 that the General Staff had consideredmounting organized suicide attacks, [8] "suicide attacks" had been made sincethe Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. [9] Two types of suicide attacks had been made.
The first was an organized attack which would, in 90% of the cases, result in thedeath of the soldiers. However, if the plan had worked on the battlefield as it didin theory, there was some possibility that the soldiers would survive. [10] The othertype of suicide attack that had been made was completely voluntary, and the result ofa sudden decision. This was usually done by aircraft. The pilots, finding noefficient way to fight the American aircraft, deliberately crashed into them, and caused anexplosion, destroying the American aircraft as well as killing themselves. [11]
Because these voluntary suicide attacks had shown that the youngpilots had the spirit of dying rather than being defeated, by February, 1944, the staffofficers had started to believe that although they were way below the Americans in the numberof aircraft, battleships, skillful pilots and soldiers, and in the amount ofnatural resources (oil, for example), they were above the Americans in the number of young men whowould fight to the death rather than be defeated. By organizing the "Tokkotai,"they thought it would also attack the Americans psychologically, and make them losetheir will to continue the war. [12] The person who suggested the Kamikaze attack atfirst is unknown, but it is often thought to be Admiral Takijiro Onishi.
However, Onishi was in the position to command the first Shinpu Tokubetsu Kogekitai ratherthan suggest it. [13]
In October, 1944, the plans for the organized suicide attacks becamereality. Having received permission from the Minister of the Navy, Admiral Onishientered Clark Air
Base prepared to command the first organized suicide attacks. [14]
Onishi had not thought the organized suicide attacks to be an efficient tactic, butthat they would be a powerful battle tactic, and he believed that it would be the best andmost beautiful place for the pilots to die. Onishi once said, "if they (the youngpilots) are on land, they would be bombed down, and if they are in the air, they would be shotdown. That's sad ... Too sad ... To let the young men die beautifully, that's what
Tokko is. To give beautiful death, that's called sympathy. "[15]
This statement makes sense, considering the relative skills of thepilots of the time. By
1944, air raids were made all over Japan, especially in the cities.
Most of the best pilots of the Navy and the Army had been lost in previous battles.
Training time was greatly reduced to the minimum, or even less than was necessary inorder to train a pilot. By the time the organized suicide attacks had started, thepilots only had the ability to fly, not to fight. Although what happens to the pilothimself in doing the suicide attack is by no means anywhere near beauty, to die in such a way, forthe Emperor, and for the country, was (at the time), honorable.
One thing that was decided upon by the General Staff was that the
Kamikaze attacks were to be made only if it was in the will of the pilot himself. Itwas too much of a task to be "commanded." [16]
The first organized suicide attack was made on October 21, 1944 by asquadron called the Shinpu Tokubetsu Kogekitai. [17] Tokubetsu Kogekitai was thename generally used in the Japanese Imperial Navy and Army. The public hadknown them as the Tokkotai, the abbreviated form. Tokkotai referred to all theorganized suicide attacks. Shinpu is what is better known as Kamikaze. [18] The captainof the first attack was to be Captain Yukio Seki. [19]
How was Captain Seki talked into such a task? According to thesubcommander of the
First Air Fleet, Tamai, who brought the issue up to Captain Seki, the
Captain had in a short time replied "I understand. Please let me do it." [20] Accordingto another source, the reply that Captain Seki gave was, "Please let me think about itone night. I will accept the offer tomorrow morning. "[21]
The document which seems to have the most credibility is the book, The
Divine Wind by Captain Rikihei Inoguchi and Commander Tadashi Nakajima. Accordingto this account a graduate of the Naval Academy, Naoshi Kanno, was originallynominated as the leader of this mission. However, he was away from Mabalacat on amission to mainland Japan. Therefore, to take Kanno's place Captain Seki waschosen, and was called to Commander Tamai's room at midnight. After hearing of themission, it appears, Seki remained silent for a while, then replied, "You must letme do it. "[22]
The reason this is the most credible document is because it had beenwritten by
Captain Rikihei Inoguchi, who was actually there with Tamai and Seki,and named the first unit, Shinpu. It is doubtful that there was a flaw in his memorysince the book was published in 1959, only 14 years after the war.
In any case, Captain Seki agreed to lead the first Kamikaze attack,and, on October
25, 1944 during the battle off Samos, made one of the first attacks,on the American aircraft carrier Saint Lo. [23] Twenty-six fighter planes wereprepared, of which half were to escort and the other half to make the suicide mission. Thathalf was divided into the Shikishima, Yamato, Asahi and Yamazakura. [24]
Part Three
The youngest of the Kamikaze pilots of the Imperial Army was 17 yearsold, [25] and the oldest, 35. [26] Most of them were in their late teens, or earlytwenties. As the battle in Okinawa [April to June 1945] worsened, the average age ofthe pilots got younger. Some had only completed the equivalent of an elementaryschool and middle school combined. Some had been to college. There was a tendency forthem not to be first sons. The eldest sons usually took over the family business.
Most were therefore the younger sons who did not need to worry about the family business.
Most of those who had come from college came in what is called the
Gakuto
Shutsujin. This was when the college students 'exemption from beingdrafted into the military was lifted, and the graduation of the seniors was shiftedfrom April 1944 to
September 1943. [27]
Many of these students were from prestigious colleges such as Tokyo,
Kyoto, Keio, and Waseda Universities. These students from college tended to havemore liberal ideas, not having been educated in military schools, and also weremore aware of the world outside of Japan.
Where were the pilots trained? All the pilots involved in the "Okinawa
Tokko "had been trained in/as one of the following: The Youth Pilot Training
School, Candidates for
Second Lieutenant, The Imperial Army Air Corps Academy, Pilot Trainee,
Flight
Officer Candidates, Special Flight Officer Probationary Cadet, Pilot
Training Schools, or Special Flight Officer Candidate. [28]
Part Four
Since the Kamikaze attacks were to be made only if the pilots hadvolunteered, and could not be "commanded," there were two methods to collectvolunteers. One was for all pilots in general, and another was for the Special Flight Officer
Probationary Cadet
(College graduates) only. The former was an application form, and thelatter was a survey. The survey asked: "Do you desire earnestly/wish/do not wish/tobe involved in the Kamikaze attacks? "They had to circle one of the three choices, orleave the paper blank. The important fact is that the pilots were required to signtheir names. [29] When the military had the absolute power, and the whole atmosphere of Japanexpected men to die for the country, there was great psychological pressure tocircle "earnestly desire" or "wish." The Army selected those who had circled "earnestlydesire. "The reason that the Special Flight Officer Probationary Cadet had toanswer such a survey rather than send the applications at their own will was probablybecause the military had known that the students who had come from college had a widervision, and would not easily apply for such a mission. For the regular application, the
Army was confident that there would be many young pilots who would apply. They werecorrect. Every student of the 15th term of the Youth Pilot Training School hadapplied. Because there were so many volunteers, the military had decided to let the ones withbetter grades go first. [30]
There are several factors which made so many young pilots volunteerfor such a mission. Extreme patriotism must have been one factor for sure. Addedto that, there was the reverence for the Emperor, a god. Some say that it wasgenerally believed that if one died for the emperor, and was praised in Yasukuni Shrine, theywould become happy forever. [31]
The effect of the brainwashing that the military had done to thestudents is surprising.
The pilots felt it was "obvious" that they were to take part in the
Kamikaze attacks.
Most pilots mention in letters that they were happy, and proud ofbeing given such an honorable mission. It is true also that they believed that if theytook part in the mission, it might improve the war situation for Japan. [32]
What the military education was like was described in a diary kept by
Corporal Yukio
Araki, from the time he had entered the Youth Pilot Training School,until the night before his original date of departure for Okinawa.
Since anything written was checked by one of the military staff,nothing that would upset the military or contradict the ideas of the Japanese governmentcould be written.
However, more importantly, because of the lack of privacy, personalemotions could not be written. Therefore, in Corporal Araki's diary, very rarely cananything "personal" be found. The first several days in the Training school, he simplylists the subjects that were studied that day, and what was done for physical training. Lateron he mentions what was done for training, the events that took place, and otherthings he had done.
However, most of what he wrote was about the "warning" hereceived. [33] The following are some of the "warnings" he had received:
There is an attitude problem when listening to the officers. [34]
Some students seem to smile or laugh during training, and othersare being lazy ... In general there seems to be a lack of spirit. [35]
Straighten yourself. It reveals your spirit. [36]
The education emphasized the mind, spirit and attitude. Neatness andcleanliness were also frequently mentioned. Usually, a hard slap in the faceaccompanied these warnings.
The way the 15-year-old boy responded to the warning was: "I must tryharder. "[37]
One of the listed subjects in the diary was a course called" Spiritual
Moral Lecture, "nearly every other day. What exactly was taught in the course is notmentioned.
However it seemed that in some of these courses, great militaryfigures who died for
Japan were mentioned. [38] It is a certainty that this course was onefactor in making the pilots feel "happy and proud" to be involved in the Kamikazeattacks.
The military education was quickly absorbed by these young pilots-to -be. It was in
October 1943 that the young boy had entered the Training School. Bythe next
February, he had written a short poem saying that a Japanese manshould be praised when he dies as he should for the Emperor. [39]
The amount of time students spent in the Youth Pilot Training Schoolwas reduced from three years to less than two years for the 15th term students.
Therefore, the schedule was tight and tough. [40] There was almost no holiday at all, and manyof the planned holidays were canceled. [41] What Corporal Araki called a "holiday" wasvery much different from what is normally considered a holiday. An example ofhis holiday started with some sort of ceremony, followed by listening and learning newsongs (probably of war), and watching a movie. Something related to the military wastaught even on days called "holidays." [42] Therefore, they were given no time to "think."
There was something to do almost every minute that they were awake, and theywere taught what the right spirit was. By not giving them time to think, they had notime to evaluate what they were being taught. They just absorbed it, and as a result, by thetime they graduated, they were brainwashed.
Corporal Araki had an older brother and three younger brothers. In hiswill to his parents, he mentioned that he wished two of his younger brothers toalso enter the military; one should enter the Navy and become an officer, the otherto enter the Army and also become an officer. He also mentions that he wishes that hisbrothers follow his path (and be involved in the Kamikaze attacks). [43]
Mr. S. Araki, Corporal Araki's older brother, mentioned that hisbrother had greatly changed after entering the military school. He remembers that hisbrother's attitude towards him was not casual, and it was not like he was talking to abrother. He felt that he had really grown up since he had seen him last, both physically and psychologically. [44]
There are three references in which Corporal Araki's thoughts towardsthe mission may be found: his will, last letters, and his diary. In his will to hisparents, and to his brother, he mentions that he has no nostalgic sentiments. In his will addressedto his brother, he mentions that he would like him to consider the mission as piety. In apostcard sent on the day of his mission, he calls the mission, "an honorable mission,"and that he is looking forward to see them again at Yasukuni Shrine. [45] It was inthe end of March
1945, that Corporal Araki's unit's mission was ordered to takeplace. [46] From just before then, Corporal Araki had not written in his diary. After anentry on March 16, there were no entries for two months. He wrote, because he was busy,there was no time to write. [47] Could that be true? Indeed, his squadron was on atight schedule for
March. From the 25th, they returned from P'yongyang to Gifuprefecture. [48]
However, Sergeant Kazuo Arai had been able to keep a diary at thetime. [49] It may be because of strong personal emotions he just could not keep thediary. Or, it may be that he could care no longer about keeping a diary. In either case thefact that he had not written an entry on the day that the mission was officiallyordered, when he had written every other special event down, reveals that he was no longerin the state of mind that he had been.
The planned date of the mission of the 72nd Shinbu squadron (which wasthe squadron to which Corporal Araki belonged) was initially, May 21, 1945.
However, because of rainy weather, it was postponed to May 27, 1945. In his last diaryentry on May 20,
1945, he wrote: [50]
... at ** o'clock I received the thankful command to departtomorrow. I am deeply emotional, and just hope to sink one (Americanbattleship).
Already, hundreds of visitors had visited us. Cheerfully singingthe last season of farewell. [51]
and is cut off there. His handwriting however was very stable, and wasnot as if he was losing control. If for some reason he had to leave the diary for awhile, why did he not go back to it? Was it that he had become extremely emotional that hecould no longer write? In any case, he never returned to his diary.
Part Five
In reading the last letters of the Kamikaze pilots, there aregenerally two types. One, the "Typical" letters and the other, the "Unique" letters. Most of thetypical letters were written by graduates of military schools such as the Youth Pilot
Training School. The
"Unique" ones were written by the Special Flight Officer Probationary
Cadets - the graduates from college. The first two of the following five pilotshave written a typical letter, and the other three have written unique letters.
Corporal Masato Hisanaga of the 72nd Shinbu Squadron was twenty yearsold. In his letter, he thanked his parents for the years that he was alive, andreported to them how he had been doing, and informed them of the kindness of the peoplewhere he had been. After asking his parents to say "Hi" to various people, he saysthat he will take revenge for his older brother (who, as it appears, must have beenkilled in the war) by sinking the enemy's battleship and killing its soldiers. He too asksthat his younger brothers follow their brother (himself). "All of the (Japanese)population is the tokkotai. "He too mentioned," I have no nostalgic sentiments. "[52]
Corporal Shinji Ozeki, 19 years old wrote a will to his mothersaying: [53]
As a man I will courageously go. Now, I have no special nostalgic sentiments. However, I will go regretting that although beingborn a man, I have not had filial piety.
To give this young self for the protection of the imperialnation, I believe is piety.
I hope that you will forgive my sin of being undutiful and thatyou will live in happiness. [54]
This is similar to what Corporal Araki and Hisanaga had mentioned. Allreveal their thoughts towards their parents. They believed their dying was piety,which shows that they were doing it for their family. All had mentioned having nonostalgic sentiments possibly to make their parents feel easier. Because these are
"Typical" letters, many others had written just as they had.
The unique ones written by the college graduates included morepersonal feelings. For example, Second Lieutenant Shigeyuki Suzuki wrote: [55]
People say that our feeling is of resignation, but that does notknow at all how we feel, and think of us as a fish about to be cooked.
Young blood does flow in us.
There are persons we love, we think of, and many unforgettable memories. However, with those, we cannot win the war.
To let this beautiful Japan keep growing, to be released from thewicked hands of the Americans and British, and to build a 'freed Asia'was our goal from the Gakuto Shutsujin year before last; yet nothing haschanged.
The great day that we can directly be in contact with the battleis our day of happiness and at the same time, the memorial of ourdeath ... [56]
Second Lieutenant Ryoji Uehara, a graduate of Keio University was 22years old. His ideas were "radical" for the time, and if known by the Kenpeitai, hewould not have been left alone. [57] In a note, he wrote to a journalist just beforehis mission that he was greatly honored to be chosen as a Kamikaze pilot. [58] Yet he alsowrote, thinking logically with the skills he had gained in college. He believed indemocracy. He believed that the victory of democracy was obvious, and although fascism wouldmake the country appear to be prosperous temporarily, only decline would waitfor it. He mentioned the fact that Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany had beendefeated, and that the power of "Freedom" will appear in history. He says that if his ideaswere correct, it would be a tragedy for the nation but that he would be happy. In theend of the note he wrote:
Tomorrow, one believer in democracy will leave this world. He maylook 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 heloved, who died earlier. [59]
Second Lieutenant Toshio Anazawa was engaged. Yet being chosen forsuch a mission that [engagement] was to be canceled. He wrote in his last letter toher all the thankfulness he felt for her and her family. He tells her that he doesnot 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 littleto 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 newfuture.
You are to live from moment to moment in the reality. Anazawa nolonger exists in the reality. [61]
Unlike the first two letters, which contained the words, "I have nonostalgic emotions, "he wrote:" It's too late now, but I would like to say some of mywishes. "
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 nofurther explanation. They just made clearer the different ways of thought thecollege students had from the others who attended military school.
Not only in writing had the thoughts of the pilots appeared. Inactions, and in speeches too were the emotions visible. Corporal Mineyoshi Takahashi, accordingto Mr. Yasuo
Takahashi, his older brother, had changed since entering militaryschool, 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 joinedthe military was similar to the way Mr. S. Araki had explained Yukio's changes.) Heremembers that the last time they met, he took Corporal Takahashi into the ship hewas working in.
Suddenly, Corporal Takahashi had asked his brother: "Which part of theship is the weakest? "Mr. Takahashi remembers that he was extremely surprised, butpointed to the place which he knew was the weakest. [64]
This reveals that Corporal Takahashi was thinking of his missionrather calmly. He had asked the question, probably thinking of which part of the ship heshould drive his plane into. [65]
Corporal Takamasa Senda before his departure had been singing manysongs with children, and at times, sat quietly alone, burning old letters in anexpression of deep thought. The last night, he looked up at the stars and said, "You arelucky, this will be the last time I see the stars ... I wonder how my mother isdoing ...."[ 66] His singing with the children was probably to forget the coming mission, and hisburning the letters was to forget the past. Saying that he wanted to be able to see the starsagain is an indication that he wanted to live.
Whether patriotism was the answer to the way they felt can be doubtedin 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 tothe 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 ofcollege, he had not volunteered willingly but was probably pressured to circle "desireearnestly "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 hadstopped on the way, his plane fell into the sea, and he survived. [70] He says that heremembers being happy when he was chosen for the mission. [71] He said that the young peoplethen who had gone into military schools did not have the ability to thinklogically, and therefore sent applications without much thought. He also says that these pilots werereally innocent, and thought purely that they would be able to serve, and protect thecountry. [72] An author and a critic, Tadao Morimoto said in a TV program that hebelieves that it was not true that they were happy to die for the country. [73] Mr. Itatsusays that he disagrees with him because some young and innocent pilots diedbelieving 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 thecomments made by
Tadao Morimoto who had been an officer in the Navy during the war, butwas 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 everyother day, and no special conversation took place. When he found that his aircraft wouldnot function properly, he suddenly felt the strong urge to live. His aircraft notfunctioning implied that he would not die. Realizing that, he could only think of living. Onhis second "chance" his plane was fine halfway. He was with two other pilots, and seeingone of them sink into the sea, realized a problem in all their engines. The tworeturned. 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 toprotect 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. Theword was
"decision." To the question, "If something happened, would you not beafraid? "he answered that it was his decision to enter such a world, and that hewould not escape if anything did occur. [76] Similarly, although it was with far morepsychological pressure, all the Kamikaze pilots had made the decision.
Conclusion
The pilots were, as a matter of fact, not radical nor extremelypatriotic, but were the average Japanese of the time. It was a dream for the young boys oflate 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. Althoughthis may sound strange, there were so many volunteers to make the suicidal andfatal attacks, that the military, to be fair, had to let the ones with the bettergrades go earlier. Because of the aura that had covered Japan, the young pilots of 18 and 19 wereeager to go.
Those of the Special Flight Officer Probationary Cadets who had theirown thoughts like Second lieutenants Suzuki, Uehara, and Anazawa were able toseparate their personal life from what was required of them to do for the war. Theyfelt the responsibility to go.
How exactly the pilots felt about the attacks could not be known butit seems that they were, in general, happy that they could serve the country, but hadother thoughts towards death. Because the brainwashing done on the pilots trained inmilitary schools was so effective, it changed the priority of 'life, then country,' theother way around.
Life was made, by the atmosphere and education of the time, to be notthe 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 theirmission, there was nothing for them to fear. Those who were not brainwashed (the collegegraduates) may have felt fear. If they were able to detach themselves totally fromlife, 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 meto 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 Trainingschools had the best flying skills of the Imperial Army. This schooling systemhad begun in 1933, and lasted until the end of the Pacific War. The age range thatwas accepted into this school was between 14 and 17. Originally, the time spent inthe school was three years. One year of general education in Tokyo and two yearsof specialized education in various parts of Japan. However, by theend of the war, the students of the 15th term were trained in only a year and 8months and were made into soldiers just in time for the Okinawa Tokko.
Candidates for Second Lieutenant
Non-commissioned officers whose excellence was recognized wereeducated 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 Schoolor the
Higher Elementary School took an examination to enter. Theybecame 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 bean Officer
Candidate. After one month in a squadron, they received sixmonths of flight training in the Imperial Army Air Corps Academy of Kumagaya, andafter six months as probationary Officer, became Second Lieutenants. Amongthe 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 wastaken. If they passed the test, they received the required education forofficers, and if found fit for the position were ranked as Higher Officer Candidates. Afterserving as probationary officers, they were ranked as Second Lieutenants. Ifthey were not found fit as an officer, they became the Lower Officer Candidatesand became non-commissioned officers. Those who had the interest in flyingreceived training with the Special Flight Officer Probationary Cadet in the
Imperial Air Corps
Academy. The students of the 7th, 8th, and 9th term were involvedin the
Okinawa Tokko.
Special Flight Officer Probationary Cadets
This was for the college students drafted into the war by the
Gakuto Shutsujin who were interested in the Air Corps. The 1st term entered in
October 1943, the 2nd in December 1943, and the 3rd in June 1944. They weremade into
Second Lieutenants in one year, half a year earlier than planned.
One sixth of the entire Okinawa Tokko of the Army was made up of these 312 cadets.
Pilot Training Schools
This was not an institution belonging to the Army, but belongedto the Ministry of
Communications. However, the content was almost the same. Therewere twelve of these schools and the students were separated into theregular course and flight training course. Students of fourteen to fifteen yearsold entered the regular course. After three years of regular education, thestudents received one year of flight training which the students of the flight trainingcourse had completed. To enter the flight training school from thebeginning, an educational background of more than Middle School graduation was required.
108 of the graduates died in the Okinawa Tokko.
Appendix Two
The 72nd Shinbu Squadron
Many of the Kamikaze pilots mentioned in the Essay were pilots of the
72nd Shinbu-tai of the Imperial Army. The following are pilots of the squadron:
Title Name Age at Departure
Captain:
First Lieutenant Mutsuo Sato 24
Sergeant Nobuyoshi Nishikawa
Sergeant Kazuo Arai 21
Corporal Yukio Araki 17
Corporal Tsutomu Hayakawa 19
Corporal Kairyu Kanamoto
Corporal Atsunobu Sasaki
Corporal Kaname Takahashi 18
Corporal Mineyoshi Takahashi 17
Corporal Masato Hisanaga 20
Corporal Toshio Chizaki 19
Corporal Takamasa Senda 19
This squadron was formed on January 30, 1945 as the 113 Educational
Flight Corps, then was transformed to the 23rd Rensei Flight Corps. On March 30,
1945, the same unit was renamed the 72nd Shinbu Squadron. (Shinbu refers to thesquadrons of the
Imperial Army which made the suicide attacks by aircraft.) They werestationed in
Heijo, what is now P'yongyan of North Korea. From March 25, 1944, theywere in
Kagamihara, Gifu prefecture for about one month. Before the mission in
May, the unit returned to Kyushu, and stayed in Metabaru, for a few days, and flewover to Bansei
Air Base. Their attack was first planned to be made on May 20, 1945,however it was postponed to May 27, 1945 due to rainy weather.
Of the twelve pilots, three did not depart for the suicide attack.
Corporal Atsunobu
Sasaki was killed by an American P-51 on May 2, 1945 in China. On thesame day,
Sergeant Nobuyoshi Nishikawa was injured, and could not take part inthe mission.
The aircraft of Kairyu Kanamoto malfunctioned on the day of theirmission, and could not take off. The remaining nine made their mission from Bansei Air
Base at 6:00 am,
May 27, 1945.
Appendix Three
The Research Method
The first time I learned of this topic was in August, 1992. It wasthe time when I went with my parents to Japan and visited manmuseums and talked to manypeople whose age varied from12 to 60 and they have told me many stories about war.
There, a great number of primary sources and photographs weredisplayed, which made me even more interested in the topic.
Since the summer of 1992, the collection of information started, withno academic purpose. In 1993, the book Rikugun Saigo no Tokko Kichi by Shichiro
Naemura was published. This book was about the Kamikaze pilots who departedfrom Bansei
Air Base.
That summer of 1993 was crucial to my interest in the Kamikaze pilots.
First, I visited
Chiran Tokko Heiwa Kaikan again on August 21, and looked in moredetail at the letters, diaries and photographs of the pilots. The photographs wereextremely inspiring in a sense, since in none of them were the pilots showing anexpression of fatigue, or regret. Most of them were smiling.
On the same night, I decided to spend the evening at "Tomiya Ryokan"which is what used to be the small restaurant Ms. Tome Torihama ran during the war,and which the
Kamikaze pilots used frequently. There were several photographs of the
Kamikaze pilots remaining there. Mr. Yoshikiyo Torihama, the grandson of Ms.
Tome Torihama, talked to me about many episodes concerning the last evening thepilots visited the restaurant.
Since May 1993 I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity toorganize my thoughts and information on this topic.
This essay was extremely interesting and, above all, meaningful for me.
The members of the older generation who I interviewed encouraged andsupported me tremendously.
Appendix Four
The following are those who have supported and encouraged my researchfor the
Extended Essay: (in alphabetical order)
Mr. Seiichi Araki
Mr. Tadamasa Itatsu
Ms. Itsuko Kai
Mrs. Masako Kai
Mr. Kyoichi Kamei
Mrs. Fusako Manabe
Mr. Ryo Matsunaga
Mr. Shiniro Nagao
Mr. Tadashi Nakajima
Mr. Glenn Scoggins
Mr. Tohshio Senda
Mr. Yasuo Takahashi
Mr. Yoshikiyo Torihama
Mr. Akira Yamami
