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In his final moments, Lieutenant Seki thought about his wife and parents

　I recently met up with a friend whom I had not seen in quite some time. He gave me a copy of Authentic Account of the Kamikaze Special Attack Unit: Unabridged Edition (Takeshobo), which I read immediately. I remembered this book when I sat down to write this month’s essay. It contains a prologue explaining how the World War II Special Attack Unit was formed, an epilogue about writings left behind by the soldiers, and eight manga chapters describing the stories of six Special Attack Unit troops in the navy and army. The beginning of the book reads as follows:

“The World War II Special Attack Unit was formed when Vice Admiral Onishi Takajiro proposed suicide attacks in 1944. After this method brought good results in the first operation, it was established as a regular tactic for attacking warships and other vessels.” “That was the beginning of the tragedy!” “Many young men lost their lives in suicide attacks; bombs were loaded on aircraft, then crashed into enemy ships. What were the true feelings of these Special Attack Unit soldiers, who were ordered to sacrifice their precious lives for their country?” “Their final writings and letters convey these thoughts – their determination, resolution, and love for the people they left behind. These are their last words, written when death was close at hand. Those of us who live in this peaceful era cannot imagine what it was like back then. We must never forget the tragedy of those kamikaze pilots, and we must remember that we live in peace today thanks to their great sacrifices.” “I pray for the souls of those brave heroes who died for a peaceful Japan. I wrote this book because I believe their sacrifices are not in vain, as long as we tell future generations about their noble spirits. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to their surviving family members who helped with this project.”

　Reading the eight-part story about the Special Attack Unit members, what left the biggest impression on me was “First Kamikaze Attack,” depicting the final days of Lieutenant Seki Yukio. Seki was an expert in anti-ship attacks using bombers launched from warships. He was assigned to command the first Special Attack Unit formed to carry out Operation Sho-go, aimed at protecting the Japanese mainland as the war situation became increasingly bleak. Seki flew on October 25, 1944 and accomplished great results, including the sinking of the USS St. Lo. When he died, he was 23 years old. Seki wrote a final letter to his mother and father:

“With the empire at a crossroads leading to victory or defeat, I am prepared to give my life for the Emperor. Nothing surpasses this long-held desire as a military man.” “To my parents in Kamakura who cherished me so tenderly, please forgive my inability to repay your blessings before I depart.” “I am prepared to give my life for the Empire today by flying my plane into a ship for the honor of our Emperor. Please take care of yourselves.”
Seki’s letter to his wife reads as follows:
“I feel great sorrow that I will die while unable to do anything for you. Although you do not voice it, I am sure you are fully resigned to this as the wife of a military soldier. Please take good care of your parents while you live your life.” “As I prepare to depart, I recall many memories while hoping that Emi and our son will be in good health.”

　I am sure that Seki, a highly skilled pilot, had many different thoughts about this operation. I truly admire how he put these aside at the end to express care and consideration to his parents and wife.

Kamikaze pilots accomplished great things; their deaths were not meaningless

　The Special Attack Unit has been criticized in the postwar era. Inoue Kazuhiko won the 6th APA Japan Restoration Grand Prize last year for his book, Distorted Truth: The Showa War (Greater East Asia War) (WAC). The following is an excerpt from the chapter about the Special Attack Unit:

“The Special Attack Unit has continually been the target of scathing criticism in postwar Japan. People say this tragic unit’s reckless tactics killed many young men while accomplishing very little, and that these soldiers died meaningless deaths.” “In postwar Japanese society, the Special Attack Unit is regarded solely as a tragic symbol and reason to criticize the military authorities. This is why people who attempt to reevaluate the operations’ significance and results, or who share information about the Special Attack Unit, are promptly met with erroneous comments and asked if they are glorifying the war. Freedom of speech has been fully regulated in postwar Japan regarding this topic.”

　These condemnations extend to suicide attack results and the soldiers’ ethos of self-sacrifice. Inoue refutes these criticisms as follows:

“The first Kamikaze Special Attack Unit departed on October 25, 1944 with a total of 18 aircraft. The mission achieved good results; they sunk one escort carrier, destroyed three ships, and damaged four more. The United States lost 128 ship-borne aircraft. American deaths and missing soldiers numbered 1,500, with 1,200 wounded. A total of 3,910 Special Attack Unit troops died over the next 10 months until the end of the war, including the army and navy. Kamikaze attacks killed 12,300 American soldiers while sinking and destroying 278 Allied ships.”

Young people appreciate stories about kamikaze pilots

　Special Attack Unit troops were willing to sacrifice their lives, and this spirit still has major impacts on people living today. Hyakuta Naoki’s hugely popular novel The Eternal Zero, released in 2006, sold more than five million copies. Many people were enthralled by this story about his grandfather Miyabe Kyuzo, who died in a suicide attack. It was made into a mega-hit movie in 2013 with box-office revenue of 8.6 billion yen. Godzilla Minus One, which came out in 2023, centers on a kamikaze pilot who survives, then is restored to life through his fight with Godzilla right after the war. This huge hit earned 7.6 billion yen at Japanese box offices and over 14 billion yen worldwide. In Till We Meet Again on Lily Hill, also released in 2023, a female high school student in the present day accidently goes back in time to World War II and meets a kamikaze pilot who is soon to depart on his suicide mission. Many teenage women loved this film, and it earned 4.52 billion yen in Japan. The main character learns about the kamikaze pilots, which leads her to change her way of life, and the movie inspired deep emotions among the young people of today.
　Table tennis player Hayata Hina caused a major stir in August after the Paris Olympics, when she stated at a press conference that she wants to visit a kamikaze museum. FNN Prime Online posted an article on August 14, titled “We Want Visitors to Learn True Kamikaze History: Facility Welcomes Hayata’s Statement, Hopes Visitors Will Experience the Value of Life and Gratitude for Peace.”

“Hayata (age 24) won a Silver Medal in the table tennis team event and a Bronze Medal in singles at the Olympics. When asked where she wants to go after the games, she replied, ‘I’d like to visit kamikaze museums in Kagoshima.’ This caused a huge response, including on social media.” “Hayata continued, ‘I’d like to visit kamikaze museums in Kagoshima because I feel that I shouldn’t take my regular life for granted, including the fact that I can play table tennis.” “It is unusual for a top athlete to say she wants to visit facilities with exhibitions of belongings and other objects from Special Attack Unit pilots, who flew bomb-equipped planes in suicide attacks on enemy ships near the end of World War II. Many people posted responses on social media: ‘I was impressed,’ ‘I’m crying,’ ‘I want to go, too,’ and ‘There are still wonderful young people in Japan, 79 years after the war.’” “Kagoshima Prefecture has several facilities related to the Special Attack Unit, including the Chiran Peace Museum in Chiran Town, Minamikyushu City; Bansei Tokko Peace Museum in Minamisatsuma City; and Kanoya Air Base Museum in Kanoya City. We asked the Chiran Peace Museum to comment on Hayata’s statement.” “‘We are thankful to Hayata for telling more people about our museum. We hope this will encourage young people who are unaware of the Special Attack Unit to visit and learn the true history of the kamikaze pilots.” “Most pilots were about the same age as Hayata. As she mentioned at the press conference, we hope our museum inspires a sense of thankfulness for their lives, the value of life, and gratitude for peace.’”

　Judging by the many young people who watched Till We Meet Again on Lily Hill, I am thrilled that so many have the same awareness as Hayata.

The Special Attack Unit serves as a model in education and training

　Schools are proactively teaching students about the kamikaze pilots’ spirit of self-sacrifice. In his book A Note for Facing Future Death in Battle (SOGENSHA), sociologist Inoue Yoshikazu writes about many of these educational initiatives.

“Politician Yamada Hiroshi (born in 1958) is actively working to use the final writings of Special Attack Unit soldiers for educational effects. Yamada was mayor of Tokyo’s Suginami City from 1999 to 2010, during which the city’s Coming of Age Day ceremonies were not taken over by unruly youth. The secret was that these 11 annual ceremonies, which were attended by Yamada, showcased the final writings of Special Attack Unit soldiers.” “The attendees quieted down when Yamada began reading these fervent words written by 20-year-old men, selected from the published Words of Deceased War Heroes. Some young women even shed tears.” “These soldiers sacrificed themselves and gave their lives because they believed in defending their country and building a new Japan. The ceremonies convey how these soldiers are the reason that young people today can don beautiful kimono and raise glasses in celebration. Today’s youth are tasked with the responsibility of living splendid lives for those soldiers who could not do so.” “After the ceremonies, the city received many letters and e-mails from young people saying they had never learned about the Special Attack Unit before, and that they intended to work hard while keeping them in mind.”

　Matsui Hideki, Nishioka Tsuyoshi, and other professional baseball players visit the Chiran Peace Museum and other related facilities, as do members of the Japanese rugby and U20 teams while participating in training camps. These museums are also included on study tours for automobile manufacturers and other corporations.
　According to Inoue, many museum visitors mention the following when asked about the most emotionally moving parts of these museums: “When I think about the war, I realize we are fortunate to live in such a peaceful era. I am grateful for this peace that lets me devote myself to things I enjoy.” “My troubles are nothing compared to what Special Attack Unit troops experienced.” “I’m impressed by their bravery and familial love, and I want to act in the same way.” “Soldiers departed on suicide missions while praying for the happiness of their loved ones. I’m touched by their great altruism.” “Pilots carried out these missions for the future of their home country. The Japan of today exists because of them, and I hope I can live up to their example.” For people who are used to this peaceful era with no wars, it is shocking to learn of the pilots’ astonishing determination in the face of certain death, as conveyed by their last notes and letters. I think that young people are affected by these writings, even if they are not by textbooks or the teachings of elders. Abe Shinzo once said, “Japan’s current affluence was built by the men who gave up their precious lives.” This provides vitality for the future and is easy for many people to comprehend. In this way, the Special Attack Unit’s ethos of self-sacrifice gives guidance to the people of today. It does not glorify war, nor is it incompatible with anti-war sentiments.
　On August 14, Kyodo News posted, “Chinese Athletes Unfollow Hayata After Statement About Kamikaze Museum.” This article says that two Chinese Paris Olympic medalists unfollowed Hayata on the social media platform Weibo after Hayata said she would like to visit museums about the Special Attack Unit. This is an indirect way of criticizing Hayata’s statement, with the same intent as the stereotypical view that is critical of the kamikaze pilots and believes that visiting a museum is equivalent to praising the war. I keenly hope that young people will serve a central role in continuing this trend of learning about the Special Attack Unit troops, and that they will not be swayed by outdated, negative comments in the media.

September 17 (Tuesday), 3:00 p.m.