https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?forum_id=1 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:42:22 +0900 http://backend.userland.com/rss/ https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=251 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=251 　　The draft notice was on a red paper a little larger than a postcard which said that you have to report to so on so company on what time, of what day of what month. When you received the notice, you had no choice but just go to the indicate ... Mon, 10 Sep 2007 08:23:19 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era 　The draft notice was on a red paper a little larger than a postcard which said that you have to report to so on so company on what time, of what day of what month. When you received the notice, you had no choice but just go to the indicated place at the exact time of the ordered day. You did not need to have anything but the red paper placed in a so-called service bag. If you did not show up as ordered, you would be searched out on the charge of draft evasion and punished by a court martial (at a special military court.)

　　When I reported by a red paper, I remember that I had a sword wrapped with a furoshiki (square cloth made for wrapping and carry articles) but I dont remember what else I had with me. The sword was one made of Bizen which I had bought at Ssangpo with a help of Mr. Imaizumi and made for a military gear with leather sheath. (Mr. Imaizumi, known as His Highness at the rank of reserved major general, was the director of a factory training school and served as a military commander of the district at the time the war ended. I heard that he and his unit were disarmament at Seongjin and taken to the USSR, then he fortunately he returned home. But, I have had no chance to meet him yet.)
　　I had made up my mind to be drafted soon or later and had prepared the sword to take with me, but I had never thought I would go to the battlefield and I might not returned home alive. I had informed that Michiko was pregnant from Tanaka, gynecologist, I had no doubt to be able to meet her when I returned home.
　　Fortunately,　my call was　cancelled within a little later than a year. But, many of fellow men had been kept in the army until the war was over or had received the draft note for the second time to be taken to Siberia or to the south, etc. Their fate were varied, and five of those taken to New Guinea and Philippines were killed in actions.
The call of this time was one for so called Kanto-Gun Special Grand Training, and the 20th command in South Korea also drafted many men. I heard it was a check of the German vs USSR, but I now think it would be a preparations for the war against UK and USA. In the 73rd unit for the call, there were men I had known as classmates such as Hayashi, Niwa, Takamaru, Mizobuchi, Matsuoka, and Yoshino. Fortunately, I was attached to the Ranam Army Hospital with Takamaru. Since this call was the second one for Takamaru (he had his first call in 1939 and had been in Nomonhan where Japanese army was defeated by a Soviet tank unit), I was largely helped by him because I could learn so much from him what to do in military life which I knew nothing about.

　　　The men called up for war were divided into two units, one for field corps to be given the hard physical trainings and another for caretakers to be given some lectures about combat medicine and where to place the field hospitals in case of open battle had occurred but without physical trainings.
The drafted for the hospitals were so many but not so much of medical examinations. There were five or six cadet officers given wide office for each with nothing to do but SHOGI or GO. Then, by October, we finally received the placement order, and one cadet doctors and I were assigned to the Hwenyeong Army Hospital.
Hwenyeong was a small border town in mountains located on the riverside of Tumen River, looking at Manchuria on the other side, and on the route of a railroad come from Keijo and goes to Harbin, the new capital (Changchun). It was late autumn, and north wind of the winter was already blowing. I imagined there were many combat units other than foot soldiers, engineer gunners, and flight units.
The director of hospital was an elderly lieutenant colonel, who was soon placed on the waiting list and replaced by a colonel who had been the director of a field hospital at the continent. The chief administration officer at the hospital was a first lieutenant, whom I could depend on largely even though I never seen him before because I learned that he had been a student three years younger than I at the Keijo Medical College. There seemed not so many medical officers exclusively attached to the hospital　other than us, the specialists such as the ophthalmology, the surgery, etc had been called from the army units, and the night duty had been done by army surgeons by turns.
Later, a second lieutenant in active duty of newly college graduate came as assigned officer, who had full of self-confidence and seemed fearless. And，there came was a second lieutenant of medicine in active duty, whose rank was higher than an officer in training. The director of the medicine department was a calm lieutenant colonel of the age. For dentistry, the medical practitioners of the town had been invited.
　　As my work, I was just to take care the patient of the internal medicine department.　The coworker, an officer in training, was an obstetrician graduated from the Osaka University, and entrusted me for the leadership. The chief of the inpatient rooms was to be administration officer, but he entrusted me to take care of them. The most of patients were soldiers, but there were officer patients as rare case and the chief of the inpatients rooms was to take care of them.

There might be various restrictions in the armed forces, but I dont remember I had any restraint on my medical treatment. What I recall was only that he told me how to write technical terms on the patients charts, for examples, not チンキ but丁幾 for tincture and not ピカ but　重曹 for sodium bicarbonate. The first director gave instructions in many ways, but the next director came to my office two or three times for the first times, then later he just waited for my reports.
As my work, other than medical examination and treatment, I had to conduct training of new medics. But, for something I did not know such as poisonous gas, I depended on medical sergeant majors and I was watching their training.
There were also some service called week duty. When there came a time of the week duty, I wore a cord of the week duty and went to see every barracks with one of the noncommissioned officers. And, this would not have any problems when I could hear the unit leaders said we have no abnormality. If any trouble had happened, I, as a duty officer, would be totally helpless, but fortunately nothing had been happened.

I sometimes had to work outside leading some soldiers. In such times, troublesome were action of salute. When persons coming toward you were those of under your ranks, you did not worry about. But, if their ranks were above yours, you had to take a command ordering your soldiers to salute to him (or to them) Keep steps, attention right, (In those days, we kept left side of the road to walk.)
Whenever you see officers, you had not worry about but just take a command because I was an officer in training. But, troublesome were to meet warrant officers coming toward you. By the ranks, the officer in training came above warrant officers, but their uniforms did not show their ranks, but badges on the neckband.
　　（Note） I should not take a command to salute before he (or they) did. So, whenever I had to go out with soldiers, I walked alone but depended on a noncommissioned officer to walk with them and command salute.

(To be continued - in translation)]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=250 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=250 　KAMIKAZE A long time ago, I saw it. A long time ago, I experienced it. That was a rare experience that young people can never go through. I saw the Japanese movie about the true story of the Kamikaze. I was deeply moved to tears and shed tears a l ... Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:25:11 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era 　KAMIKAZE

A long time ago, I saw it. A long time ago, I experienced it. That was a rare experience that young people can never go through.
I saw the Japanese movie about the true story of the Kamikaze. I was deeply moved to tears and shed tears a lot. I actually knew those things and those times, that's why I was deeply moved.

In May 1945, just before the war ended, I was a student of the Osaka Military Preparatory School. During a free time (see below) in the evening, one fighter aircraft of the Imperial Army came and made circulation flights above the school at a low attitude again and again.
All the students went out and waved their hands hardly toward the fighter. After a while the fighter flew away to the west. I didn't know who he was. Maybe he would be a young lieutenant who graduated from the school, entered the Military Academy, and on that day, transferred to the Kamikaze base.
Japan went to war, the 'Greater East Asia War' (east part of World War II), against the West including England, the United State, and Holland, and lost it. Japan made an unconditional surrender. Some people said the use of Kamikaze was a meaningless waste of lives, but I don't think as such.
Because Japan, only Japan, made the 'Great East Asia War', Japan could offer a chance to the Asian countries to become independent from the West which dominated and exploited them. This is an unchangeable historical fact. The people who lived for a noble cause and fell on the battlefield, should be proud of themselves. I pray for them.

(Attached table)
Daily schedule of the Osaka Military Preparatory School
May (for example)
　6:00AM　　Get up (by the trumpet)
　　　　　　　　 Morning roll call
　　　　　　　　 Bow toward the Imperial Palace
　　　　　　　　 Read 'The Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors'
　　　　　　　　 Clean the room
　　　　　　　　 Check the arms
　 6:40AM　 Check the bed room
　 6:50AM 　Morning assembly
　　　　　　　 　 Breakfast (Admonitory speech by an officer on the week
　　　　　　　　 Free time
　 7:50AM　 Check the uniform, move to the lecture room
　 8:00AM　 The first period of lecture class (50 students in one class)
　 8:50AM　 Break time
　 9:00AM　The second period of lecture class (I learned French)
　 9:50AM　 Break time and exercise
　10:05AM　The third period of lecture class (Mathematics class was tough)
　10:55AM　Break time
　11:05AM　The fourth period of lecture class (Biology class was fun)
　11:55AM Break, Receive an order
　12:10PM Lunch (sat down at the table in a group made up of one second-year senior student, two first-year senior students and three students of the same grade, and the lowest grade students serve the meal), Medical check & treatment, Break
　13:10PM Private study
　14:00PM Break time
　14:15PM The first period of disciplinary class (Exercise, military drill including marching), otherwise music, handicraft, private study
　15:05PM Break time
　15:20PM The second period of disciplinary class (including field survival training and trench construction training), otherwise music, handicraft, private study
　16:10PM Break time
　16:25PM Free time (it was an enjoyable time, including bathing)
　17:15PM Maintenance and repair (short sword, shoes, and washing clothes)
　17:40PM Dinner and break (most of this time was exercise of military songs)
　18:50PM The first period for private study
　19:50PM Break and receive an order
　20:00PM The second period for private study
　21:00PM Write a reflecting diary (with a Japanese brush and Chinese ink)
　21:15PM Evening roll call
　21:45PM Lights-out (by the trumpet), go to bed

We have never experienced the 'fist punishment' by the senior students or military officers, which is often described in the movies.


Year's First Visit to the Shrine

At the beginning of a new year (2007), I chose the Kashihara Shrine in Nara to visit as the first shrine of this year. It's been a long time since I last visited there, and for my wife, it's been very 67 years since her last visit. It was a big event in both our lives. The year of 2007 is called the Heisei 19 year in Japan, and it can be converted into 2667 year of the Japanese Era.
When my wife (and I) first visited the Kashihara Shrine, it was the Showa 15 year (1940), i.e. 2600 year of the Japanese Era. Japan celebrated the 2600th anniversary of the foundation of Japan, and a large number of people visited the Kashihara Shrine where the first emperor of Japan, Jinmu, was said to be enshrined. I visited there on an elementary school trip, and may have visited as a family trip as well but I don't remember very well.
I have a clear memory of when I visited the shrine as a student of the Osaka Military Preparatory School on April 3 in 1945, the festival day of the Jinmu emperor. It was the first go-out in my school life. We formed ranks and marched to the shrine wearing a 'baggy' first-class military uniform and a short sword for the first time. While many citizens were coming to the festival, we marched through the middle of the graveled approach road keeping our head high and stamping with new loose-fitting shoes. I still have a vivid impression of that event. The whole area of the shrine including the approach was solemn and clear. The Rising-Sun flag fluttered in the background of Unebi Mountain.

The following is my physical examination record of when I was a child soldier. Compared to the children of this time, my physique was the same as those of elementary school children.

Physical record 　Height (cm) Weight (kg)
The first　grade me　　average　　me　　　average
　April　　 　　　141.7　　　150.2 　 32.7　　41.0
　May　　　　　 142.1　　　150.7　　33.4　　41.5
　June　　　　　142.4　　　150.7　　34.8　　41.6
　July　　　　　 142.8　　　151.2　　33.1　　41.2
]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=249 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=249 Our safety dream place, Inchon,After such sad things had continued, anyway the ship was sailing without any incident. We only prayed to advance into the territory of the South Sea as soon as possible. We had had sleepless night between hope and despair, a ... Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:20:52 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era Our safety dream place, Inchon,

After such sad things had continued, anyway the ship was sailing without any incident. We only prayed to advance into the territory of the South Sea as soon as possible.
We had had sleepless night between hope and despair, and in the meantime it dawned.
When we could catch the signs of several islands, a man shouted.
A boat like a Coast Guard is closing to us!
Take care!
Shouting so, some people ran up to the deck.
We will be captured by the North Coast Guard again!
We were under our breathes in the ship and soon someones voice said,
It seems a ship belongs to the South.
I climbed up in a hurry too and found that the flag on the approaching ship was not a familiar North flag but another flapping one.
Maybe we passed through the 38゜line safely and arrived at the dreaming south area.
Each ship reduced the speed and drew together. Two guards transferred from the Coast Guard to this ship.
Are you Japanese? They smiled gently and asked fluently in Japanese.
Our head explained the summary of this group and the process to get there.
I understand. Maybe you had a very hard time, please ease your mind. We must hand over you to American military. We will inform you about the details later.
Are there any sick people who want an immediate treatment? Please say so. Later we will come to give you some foods and water. They got off our ship, and then parted.
Well Done! Finally we are free! BANZAI, BANZAI
Now not knowing how to express our present feeling, all of us only cried out, shook hands, hugged each other and shared the joy innocently.
Beside us, there were some people who were only standing and tearing in a daze.
In the circle, our family confirmed our faces looking at each other and shouted,
We are lucky, arent we?
Both ships dropped anchors beside an island and people began to transfer to the original ship. My father moved back to this ship again after some separation.
Everybody tried the best!
My fathers voice heard in three days was in high spirit and reliable.
In the afternoon, the same Guard Coast came back with corns, millet breads, water, etc,and gave them to us. Thinking about a meal, we didnt eat anything for whole one day and a half. Because of a fear and a following joy we had forgotten our emptiness at all. Delivered rations instantly filled our stomachs.
You were permitted to land on Inchon next morning, so stay here tonight.
Saying so, the Coast Guard turned back again.
They only told us to allow us to land at that moment, so we didnt know about the details-- after tomorrow how they treat us and how a formal return to Japan is. In the ship enjoying a safety we had gotten at last, I assured that time was going by calmly and peacefully as if last troubles were not true.
In the dusk of evening, I wanted to confirm the outside situation, and went up to the deck alone.
Having looked around, I saw only an island and water. I couldnt see the port of Inchon, yet, so I supposed we were around the Yonjyon island floating in the Kyonggiman .
It had passed just one week since we started from Dasado. The landscape in South Korea where we could arrive earlier if we didnt come across the typhoon was so tender and I felt even the air I could breathe freely. Listening to the voices from the cabin, I drew a deep breath two or three times and tried to exhale the memory of the long and severe voyage.

Next morning it was very fine and an air and our feeling were very cool and fresh.

About 9 oclock I suppose- the same Guard Coast came with a tugboat and said,
From now, we will tow your ships to Inchon.
Two ships were connected and moved quietly just as we started from the Dasado.
In less than an hour, numbers of ships increased around there and we found a long expected port of Inchon.
When we were going to tie-up the ship at the pre-ordered place, I found a strange car rushing through on the jetty. It was a small four-wheeled vehicle with a back top and a white man wearing a khaki cap with both upper ends sharpened was driving it. Though I knew later, it was a jeep driven by an American soldier and anyway it ran fast and lively.
This was the first surprising thing for me.
As soon as the ship arrived at the quay, we landed all at once. Except the time when we landed for foods and water after a typhoon, we forced to stay in the ship, so our feet became weak and we staggered down. But this was just peaceful land, Inchon, which we had dreamed. Even if our feet were staggering a little, there were no shackles. Step by step, we advanced confirming the SAFETY.
]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=248 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=248 A sad farewell and to the most dangerous place Changsango-The sea was so calm, and then the ship sailed so slowly. At the break of dawn, it approached to the most western and sticking-out place of the Korean Island -Changsango- in Korean off shore.This m ... Sat, 25 Aug 2007 18:01:30 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era A sad farewell and to the most dangerous place Changsango-

The sea was so calm, and then the ship sailed so slowly. At the break of dawn, it approached to the most western and sticking-out place of the Korean Island -Changsango- in Korean off shore.
This morning a sickly infant who was in bad condition since last typhoon, passed away in his mothers arms despite of our wishes, Just live more! This was the first dead since this voyage had begun.　The body covered with a mat was tenderly put on the surface on the sea with parents tears. Born in a foreign country and living in a severe circumstance only, the life was sunk in the unknown sea without enjoying fresh air, green and foods of mother country. As it was so tragic scene to see the parent who ran to the stern to see off their child, that I couldnt say anything. The child had been going away among the waves. Looking the back of the parent we only prayed with folded hands.
Two or three hours later, after such a sad farewell had be done, our ship came near to the most dangerous place Changsango -.
At that time our ships were near the 38゜line so the guard might be stricter. Actually it was the safest route to sail down to the south, turning the west of the big islands in Penyon and Techon , and directly pass through the 38゜line. But that route was rather long detour so it would take one more day by this speed. On the ship there were another weaken infants and olds, so it was nessesary not to have more sacrifice. Even though there was a peril for security, we decided to go the shortcut after turning the cape and changing the direction to the east a little.
Around the Korean Island at the side of the Yellow Sea, the difference between ebb and flow was very large. Especially around here, there were a lot of islands and the changes of current were very strong. So the sailing here labors through high waves.
From Changsango to Taendogman,that was the worst black spot. We persuaded the hesitating crews and advanced to the spot with do or die
We had a plan to go apart from the dangerous spot as far as possible but in this current the ship was approaching to the cape as if it was magnetized. The distance between the rocky land and our ship were only 100meters or so. The seawater was whirling around and we saw a small wrecked ship (I supposed) on the reef.
Just then, our ship was caught into the swirl and turned to the left. We prayed with sweat of fear not to go into the center of it. Fortunately the ship turned around and was sent out of the swirl so we could escape. Having watched at our ship from the right backward, our fathers ship quickly steered to the right and evaded safely.
The skill of steersman might be very good, or we would sink deeply as algae in the ocean.
The ship barely ridden out of the dangerous spot, afterward advanced right along to the Southeast in the Onjinbando. Around the evening the ship seemed to sail around the Sunwido which located the south of Onjinbando, and reached to the offing of Haeju port.
The signs of ships coming and going increased. It was possible to be found out by the Coast Guard so we were so nervous. We were then just near the 38゜line, and if we were found and captured by them, all our efforts would be in vain. So we should go into the destination, Kyonggiman in Inchon, at a dash using the evening dark.


The crew refused to go through the 38゜line

All our tension increased. At that time a trouble happened again.
Four Korean crews began to say　Going to South is to endanger ourselves. We want to get off here. We, of course, didnt think to make them go far more. Their claim was not unexpected. The result of discussion was stop the ship temporarily at the nearest coast and set them free. and afterward try to dash only by us.
So we stopped the ship in a hurry and let down the small boat and released them.
Though we had paid the decent money to them, and since the departure from the Dasado, they were very good at keeping company with us for six days including the stormy day. When it came to the time to part, we felt kinship with them strangely, and cried Komasumida! Annyokaseyo
And waving to us they went back in the darkness.

Now, we will go through the TaeYonpyongdo and the next is a long-waited passing over the38゜line! There were no watermen but we had experienced how to steer by helping them. Lets try our best! So the male went set and the ship began to move smoothly.
Even so, we were only amateur for the navigation. As we didnt know which was the North or the South, we felt so anxious. Luckily we could distinguish the land dimly in the harvest moon. We sailed the ship looking the land in far right side, and we could guess the South by the moving of the moon, as it moved from left to right。 Ｙet we were in the territorial seas of North Korea. We were worried about the Coast Guard to chase us, and there was another peril to crash against the other fishing boat, so we stayed on our guard. At any rate that was the most reckless cruise!
There was no way but to continue the precarious trip, knowing that the dreaming place was so close.
At that time, we knew that an infant in the bad condition diyed too. Tomorrow we would get to Inchon, when the infant died, so the parent wanted to carry the body to there. But it was not sure to get there tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
Even though we arrived there, to cremate would be impossible. Therefore we chose the same way as we had done this morning, water burial. For the parent that was a heart-rending way, but we committed the body to the wave from the board.

(To be continued - in translation)
]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=247 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=247 Liberated and on the sea againFor a while we talked about the disaster of the typhoon, when my father was called and went up to the deck. As soon as he came back, he said to us, Navigating by the tugboats stops here. From now on, we will sail only by two ... Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:15:36 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era Liberated and on the sea again

For a while we talked about the disaster of the typhoon, when my father was called and went up to the deck. As soon as he came back, he said to us, Navigating by the tugboats stops here. From now on, we will sail only by two motor-powered-sailboats ., and added to us, It was decided that we will embark separately ---one boat is for men and another is for the families including the old and the children.
My father continued to explain, I dont know the exact reason because I didnt speak to them directly but I heard that a police man in Nanpo said, Japanese passengers cant be permitted formally to the South Korea, but  Though its unofficial one and on account of the process in Sinjangju that this sailing was permitted, we will permit to sail again as for the families., then As for the men, it is difficult to permit essentially but we decided to overlook for not keeping company with them from the first. They recognize this sailing as a separate act, so we should change the boat quickly and ship out.
A little while ago, after the tugboat men and Coast Guard had talked about something , two of them transferred to this place and talked with some Japanese and the crews. Having watched that, I was afraid that some trouble might happen. But at least it was so lucky to elude the capturethe worst situation-- , so I felt relief at the news.
I thought like that---the tugboat men couldnt stand an awful sweat like towing a boat any more. Also the authorities had considered it was troublesome to deal with such a large amount of Japanese people、so its better to set them free as soon as possible.
Immediately our fathers transferred to the other boat with their hand baggage and families in the other boat moved to this boat with the collecting baggage. The move began hurriedly. They ordered us one family must be together but there was a disturbance. Except 2 bout men, there were only us, children, as male help, so five men remained here as the surveyors. I was so envied these families because we should be apart from our fathers.　Within one hour or so the move had finished. While the two bouts were the same size but there were about 60 people on the bout for male and there were 120 people on the boat for families, and the voyage started again at Chinnanpo to the Southward. Though the boats advanced to the open sea early in the afternoon, our family boat could sail openly along the sea coast, but as for fathers boat it was necessary to sail as secretly as they could as they had no permission.
Therefore they advanced within the offing not to be found out by the Cutter, so the shape of the ship was gradually far and dwindle away.
For some time our ships were sailing side by side in our each sight, but in the afternoon the weather changed worse again because of an approaching typhoon. Wind and wave became strong and high, so the ship rolled terribly, and frequently the sign of another ship disappeared from our sight and at last in the evening we lost it.
For us the last nightmares were still remaining in our mind, so it was so helpless to be on board without fathers. On the board the conversations dwindled away and gloomy air was floating.
Our fathers were taken away anywhere, Im afraid.
By my mothers talking to herself, I was scared too, and thought, Thats could happen!Ｔheir requirements were so strange for us.
Even though they would take our fathers by only the Korean shipmens will, they cant do such a thing against for the several Japanese men, so after all they were captured by the Coast Guard? Any way as not having anything to do, we could not help spending that night on the board in the close quarters with anxiety.
After the nervous night it dawned and a person on the board was shouting.
I can see another ship! I ran up to the board quickly and looked at the direction the man pointed. Surely I could recognize the ship where I said good bye to our fathers. Our ship was far from the land so it was a miracle to meet each other by chance on the mighty ocean! Still there was quite a few distance but the people on another board noticed us, so it gradually came to close. In 30minutes or so the ship drew together and we could distinguish each faces. I found my father smiling toward us.
Though we met together we could not transfer yet, so the ship sailed side by side to the South like before. Even though we were on the ship separately, I was very glad to see that my father was safe and fine and stayed near us. I guessed another family felt the same way.


Landed secretly for water and foods at night

Including this lucky day, 5days had already passed since we started Dasado Island.
According to our first plan we should have arrived at the destination already, but we only came half because of a typhoon. About foods we brought somewhat enough but the remains were lessening and the every quantity of ration decreased day by day. We all often thought Hungry! or Want to eat anything to the full! But we were the escapees on the ship, so we didnt have any resource to get foods. Without a rod we couldnt catch fish which were sailing around a lot. After all there was no way to keep the food except eating little by little, and to pass a hunger we tried not to move.
The more serious problem than foods was water. Every body brought water bottles or kettles but they became already empty. The supporting water in the ship was slowly bottoming up. The amount of almost water was scarcely enough for only one day to satisfy their thirst of so many people. If it rained we could get it on the sail and store a little, but the amount would be a few. Actually last night it rained a little so we gathered it on the sail but got only three cups of bagaji. (bagaji cut a melon into halves and hollow inside then dry up use for a bucket or a dipper )
We, fine and healthy, were able to endure by only complaining hungry or thirsty. The weak and the infant, looked patient but had weakened apparently. It was so pitiful.
We all decided that from now on, in case of taking at least three more days (we must supply water and foods anywhere at any risk.) Fortunately we had a male help tonight, so planed to land by night.
From the evening our ship approached the coast little by little and got to the little fishing village (I supposed) when it darkened around. 20 Japanese landed with 4 Korean crews who leaded us. Beforehand we gave a bribe to them, so the crew with some money rushed into the private house and procured some foods like corn or millet and water. In the mean time we went around to the back yard and dug out the potatoes or vegetables at random in the field. Incidentally I looked around for watering place to satisfy my thirst in the dim light but couldnt find it. I had no choice and drank scooped standing water cautiously on the surface in the field with my hand. It was not clean and stank a little, but on this occasion it was inevitable.
Dont drink too much for fear of diarrhea!
Shouting so, fathers were scooping and drinking the water, too.
As an official procuring member, the crew was safe but we, burglars, rushed to the ship with spoils. Staying for a long time was unnecessary. As soon as the crew came back with water, they unbound the moor and started immediately. It was lucky that the Guards didnt chase us crying, Burglar!
We delivered the booties equally by all and the dishes cooked by mothers were so warm and delicious supper even though they could not eat until our stomach distended.

(To be continued - in translation)


]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=246 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=246 A Typhoon Swept Over Us And We Barely Survived Next morning, the weather was the same as the previous day.We could see land far away, and the 2 ships seemed to be sailing as they should.However, around noon, the clouds became darker and the wind grew stro ... Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:21:07 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era A Typhoon Swept Over Us And We Barely Survived

Next morning, the weather was the same as the previous day.
We could see land far away, and the 2 ships seemed to be sailing as they should.
However, around noon, the clouds became darker and the wind grew stronger.
The fishing boats, which were always around us, suddenly disappeared.
I was afraid that a typhoon was coming.
Then the tugboat approached, and the crew of both ships talked loudly as they looked up into the sky.
As I could see a typhoon was really coming, and it seemed that they were discussing how to deal with it.
The Japanese, who was in charge, explained that a typhoon was indeed approaching and they needed to move the ship nearer land so as to avoid danger. Also, if they got permission, they would enter port. If that was the case, we would be told to stay inside the hold.

Though it was not clear where they tried to avoid the typhoon, it seemed to be
west of Pyongsong, and near Chinnanpo.
As we neared the land, the waves began to get bigger and the shuddering of our ship increased.

It began to grow dark.
As we were looking toward a small port, a coastguard patrol boat approached us and one of its crew members boarded the tugboat.
He was pointing to our ship and talking with the tugboat crew, but after a while his boat moved away without inspecting our ship and he parted with his gesturing us to hollow.

Though we did not understand the exact details at that time, what was told to us later was that the coastguard just wanted us to shelter in the harbor.

The group decided that this was the right course of action so as to avoid the typhoon, as to tow our ships in such stormy conditions would be very dangerous. If we continued as before, there was a possibility of our being separated from the tugboat and so end up drifting away. Anyway, we didnt want it to leave us until we reached port safely.
Therefore, the group members decided to put three or four of us on the tugboat as a kind of security measure. Therefore suitable persons were needed urgently and as adults had to look after their families, we upper-graders of elementary school were chosen. So three boys including myself were transferred to the tugboat.
At first, I left the ship in rough seas, while the other two remained on board the ship.
However, one of them couldnt move out of fear.
As the tugboat captain didnt have time to waste, he got irritated, and refused to accept the two remaining boys. So that meant I was the only that became a hostage as it were.
Up to now, I had experienced a lot for my age. So I had guts.
And to get on the tugboat roused my curiosity.

At first, the captain was bad-tempered, because he thought that he wasnt being trusted by us.
But gradually he regarded me as a brave boy, who wasnt troublesome. He made me sit by the wheelhouse.
Instead of just saying, Now, here we go, he just winked and started off in the direction where the coastguard had suggested.

I had a great deal of curiosity and thought myself quite brave for a sixth grader. I still took things easy and was very optimistic.

While the wind strengthened and the crest of the waves became whiter, the tugboat and our two ships sailed among many small islands and tried to reach a port. Though we could see the silhouettes of freighters and fishing boats as well as town lights, it took almost one hour.

However, when we were several kilometers from the harbor, the wind grew suddenly stronger and the waves surged forward on our starboard side.

The captain steered the tugboat in that direction in order to catch the waves as they came toward us. However, one wave was as high as a wall and hit the ships bow violently.
Immediately after that, the tugboat seemed to float in the air, and the next to sink as it were as if being dragged to the bottom of the sea.
And a high wall of a dark wave rose higher and higher and plunged down on to the boat.

In an instant, the wave cracked like a whip and hit the wheelhouses window with such a crash that we couldnt see anything but foam.

The crew watched the 2 ships behind them and seemed to sense danger so they came into the wheelhouse. So now there were three people including myself in the small cabin.
The captain, who was steering in the center of the wheelhouse, straightened himself up, seemingly bewildered with such a rapid change of wind and waves.
He began to shout loudly.

Of course, if I could have understood what they were saying, it would have been impossible because of the sound of the spray.
However, from his gestures, it seemed as though it would be impossible to tow the 2 ships any further and that it would be better for them to drop anchor and remove the tow ropes.

Indeed, under such conditions, even to someone inexperienced as myself, I could see that this was the right thing to do As the function of the tugboat had been rendered useless, there was a danger on both sides: tugboat and the other ships.
The port was near, and even if they couldnt enter, the ships would manage to drop anchor outside it.
One of the tugboats crew members tried to lean out the window to give a sign. He even attempted to get out of the wheelhouse, but without much success due to the shaking.

After he made contact with the other ships crew through gesturing, they understand the situation. However, this didnt go very well under such conditions.
While they were trying desperately to complete their work, a high wave rose up and crashed down upon them. It tossed the boat around like a plaything and all that could be heard were banging, splashing, creaking and rattling noises.


At first, I wondered where the rattling sounds were coming from. However, later I noticed that they were coming from the screw, which could be seen underneath the ship as it flew up in the air.

The spray and the creaking noises became more violent, and the shouts of the crew gradually turned into screams.

I was becoming more and more afraid and I realized that this was now no laughing matter. I thought that the boat would be swallowed up by the waves and we could well sink. Such ominous images crossed my mind.
I was also worried about the ship, which my family was on. I was watching its stern from a small window while gripping the back of my chair firmly.
I could see its riding on the crests of the waves, being shaken about by the storm.
However, the amount of shaking must have been very different between a ship of 30 tons and one of 300.
If my boat could be compared to a leaf, then their ship would be a tree branch.
When I thought that if such a ship would sank, our boat was sure to go first. When that crossed my mind, I became suddenly scared.

However, in this situation, I understand that it was no good grieving about it.
What was the good of worrying.
All I could do, was to leave the ship to the captain and pray to heaven for the weather to improve.

There and then, I made up my mind that there was nothing to do other than fight against the rough sea by gripping the handrail firmly and stopping me from falling off the boat which was being thrown about all over the place.

How long had we been fighting the storm?
When the wind changed a little from right to left, and when the ship didnt move so violently, I could see the lights of the port in front of us. The wind had begun to drop just a little and the ferocity of the waves had lessened somewhat.
I now thought that I would possibly survive, and I was returning to some sort of sanity for the first time.
Outside, it was already dark.

I turned around but I couldnt see the ship that my family was on.
Perhaps at that time when it had dropped anchor, the ship separated from us

Though it was dark, I could sea the light of the pier quite close to us, which meant that our ship was very near land .

Through gestures, I asked the captain who had regained his composure by then, about the ship my father was on.
He replied in a smattering of Japanese and Korean that I neednt worry as he thought the ship was a bit further away. Anyway I felt relieved.

When the captain tapped me on my shoulder and commented that though I might have been scared, I had held up well, I thought him very trustworthy and began to look upon him as a close friend.
As the clock on board indicated nine oclock that meant we had kept fighting the storm for more than three hours.

After a while, the coastguard patrol boat approached and two officials in charge boarded us.
They talked for sometime but I couldnt understand what they were saying.
They occasionally saw me, but fortunately they didnt show any interest in me, and after 15 minutes they left.

The captain said to me in broken Japanese, that we would be letting the typhoon pass us completely and when dawn broke the next day, we would then join the two other ships behind us. Seeing that I was hungry, he gave me some corn bread and lukewarm tea, and then told me to go to bed.
As I later recalled, I hadnt eaten lunch that day. So I thanked him in Korean (komasumida) and started eating. I was relieved and ate my dinner. It seemed to me such delicious food that I hadnt eaten like this for so long time.

I worried about my family who were on the ship behind us, but it was useless to think too much about it.
Therefore, I believed what the captain had said and I threw myself down in the cabin and fell asleep instantly.


It had been a hairs-breadth escape: Where were we?

The next morning gave rise to unbelievably fine weather as drastically compared to the day before.
When I looked about, there was another port with several ships of great bulk moored ahead of us.
According to the captain, it was Nanpo port, though the closest port seemed to be Chinnanpo port. This was because, based on our original sailing plan, after leaving Dasado Island, we would pass the offing of Sinanju, Hanchon and Nanpo. However, it seemed that we were forced to call in at Chinnanpo port because of the storm. I had heard this name from my father. Apparently, it was in a well-known industrial zone where a great many Japanese had been living there.

By the way, in North Korea, there were ports, such as Rajin, Chongjin, Heungnam and Weonsan along the Sea of Japan, and from the north Yongampo (Dasado Island), Sinanju, Nanpo and Haeju on the Yellow Sea.
However, the biggest ports were only Nanpo and Haeju, with the former, which was located at the lower reaches of the Taedong River, flowing south of Pyongyang toward the west, being the more important. This port was also the entrance of the sea routes to China (Dalian, Shanghai), Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Japan.

Before the end of WWⅡ, there were many factories there such as:
Nippon Mining Co., Ltd. --Nanpo Refining Plant.
Korea Asahi Light Metal Co.,Ltd.-- Giyang Factory.
Korea Steel Corporation-- Daean Electric Smelting Factory.
Mitsubishi Steel MFG. Co., Ltd.--Yungdaehwa Electric Smelting Factory.

And in the nearby city of Songrim, there was Nippon Steel Corporations Gyeonipo Work, while Sariwon had both a spinning factory and a fertilizer plant.
Korea Asano Cement Co., Ltd. had a plant in Bongchul

Although there were fewer than ten thousand Japanese connected to these factories, there were other residents, who numbered several tens of thousands.

However, we were not sure how they were faring when we made a port call there.
As compared with Sinuiju where we had been living, we thought that because this region was nearer the 38th Parallel, they could be repatriated by regular means, and therefore, it would seem comparatively easy for those who had stayed behind to escape from there.

However, we were told later that many of the people in the southern and eastern parts of North Korea had had a difficult time trying to across the so-called border.
Probably, there were still a considerable number of people who remained there at that time.

While I was having my last look at Chinnanpo port, the same coastguard boat, which had appeared the day before, approached and the tugboat captain (PLEASE CHANGE THIS WAY THROUGHOUT) and the coast guard officer discussed something.
When they finished talking, the boat guided us to the 2 ships, which had become separated yesterday.

It left the pier and went a little out and I saw them, a little way from each other. They had dropped anchor and had been moored quite safely. The people on board saw us approaching, and some of them waved to us, shouting that they were all right. Naturally we were all happy to hear that.

When we reached the ship on which my father was, I climbed up the ladder, though those who pulled me up seemed exhausted but welcomed me with smiles as if they had forgotten the difficulties of the day before.
I was little ashamed, as though I had received a heros welcome, which I really didnt deserve.

My father met me on deck and praised me by saying that though he had been afraid the day before, nothing was better than knowing that I was safe. He asked me if had been injured. However, he didnt go as far as asking for my forgiveness.

When I got down into the hold, there were people putting things in order as their possessions had been scattered all over the place the night before, while others still seemed exhausted.
In my familys corner, my mother, sister and brother were waiting for me.
Mother had been worrying about me, explaining that they had never had such a frightening experience ever before as they had had last night. Anyway, we thanked heaven we were all safe. Mother asked me if I were hungry, though all she had was only a little corn bread.
While I shared this with my family, I recalled the captains face, who had given me the same kind of bread after the previous days frightening experience.
Mother resolutely said to me with all sincerity and warmth that she would never make me do such a danger again.

Mother resolutely said to me with all sincerity and warmth that she would never make me do such a dangerous thing again.
]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=245 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=245 　　Dear Machan,　Thank you for your reply.　I might talk big because I was in the military school for just five months from April to August in 1945. Before going to the school at the age of thirteen, I grew up under the protection ... Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:58:29 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era 　Dear Machan,
　Thank you for your reply.
　I might talk big because I was in the military school for just five months from April to August in 1945. Before going to the school at the age of thirteen, I grew up under the protection and deep love of my parents. I was naturally an immature child in a sense.

　From the first day of school life, I woke up with the sound of trumpet and went to bed with the sound of trumpet. Fourteen members lived in each room. We became a pair, and worked for everything together with a mate, or 'fellow soldier'. There were also several senior model students in the same room.
　I learned a lot as a human from the senior students. They disciplined us sometimes strictly and sometimes gently, taught many things to us who were still immature. I think I learned the most important things in life.

　In the morning, we studied 'enemy's language' (English), and in the afternoon we had a physical training that cultivated indomitable spirits.
　When having meals, we sat down at the table in a group of one second-year senior student, two first-year senior students and three students of same grade. The group members were changed every week. I learned manners of dining, conversation, and etiquette in detail. Some suggestions, or tips, to 'survive' the military school life were also given to us, and a time for a prayer before meal was especially amicable and enjoyable.

　'The Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors' (issued by Emperor Meiji of Japan on 4 January 1882) said the most important spirits were 'loyalty, honor, courage, faith, and simplicity'. Though now we are not soldiers, I think 'honor', 'faith' and 'simplicity' are still very important factors in our everyday life. From this point of view, my military school life was very constructive for my character building.
　Thank you.

　Honobono]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=244 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=244 　Dear Honobono,With reading your sentences, I felt a heartrending sorrow. Your elder brother died at such young age. I first came to realize that it was not only the soldiers that died in the war. And you went to the Military Preparatory School. I ... Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:53:03 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era Dear Honobono,

With reading your sentences, I felt a heartrending sorrow.

Your elder brother died at such young age. I first came to realize that it was not only the soldiers that died in the war.

And you went to the Military Preparatory School.

I can understand that the military school was strict, but can't understand it was 'constructive'. Please tell me about this.

Thank you for homefelt story.

Machan
]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=243 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=243 　　On December 7, 1944, I was working in rice fields vastly spread on the southern side of Uji River. I was a first-year student of Kyoto First Middle School. I was mobilized as an agricultural student worker, that is, all students older than ... Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:48:08 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era 　On December 7, 1944, I was working in rice fields vastly spread on the southern side of Uji River. I was a first-year student of Kyoto First Middle School. I was mobilized as an agricultural student worker, that is, all students older than 12 years old were ordered to work in fields or factories because most adult men had been sent to the war. While carrying several long bamboo poles, I suddenly tottered right and left and thought 'damn, it's difficult to carry bamboo poles'. But it was not true. The fact was whole fields were trembling and rolling. It was a large earthquake (Magnitude 7.9; 'Tounankai earthquake'). This big earthquake, however, was not covered by the media because news which disturbed the public was not reported during wartime.

　December 8 was a day off, as we first-year students worked the day before. I was resting in my room and my mother was knitting downstairs. Someone opened the door and came in. They were two teachers of my elder brother. My brother was a forth-year student of Kyoto Third Moddle School, but at that time, he was mobilized and sent to the Nakashima airplane factory in Handa city near Nagoya.

　At first my mother thought that they came to recommend my brother to the Naval Flight Preparatory Course. She said something as an excuse like my brother was too small or unqualified or such things.
All of sudden, I heard her crying out, like screaming, to my room on the second floor. It was my first time that I had heard her crying.

　When I went downstairs the teachers had already left. My mother was very upset and told me shortly that my brother died at the factory during the earthquake. 'That'snot true', I tried to comfort her but in vain. At that time there was no telephone in my house or at the neighbors, so I went to the post office to call my father's office. My father worked for a busy munitions factory as a chief, but he rushed back home. I felt relieved when I saw my father's face.

　My mother held on to my father crying, but my father just said 'If he died there's nothing we can do now'. 'Don't say such things..', my mother appeared disapproving, but there was no time but to prepare to go to Handa city. Owing to an unusual situation, we could get two tickets for Handa city within a day though it was difficult to get train tickets during wartime.
　Only young children, such as my younger sister and I, stayed at home. I still don't remember what we ate or how we spent our days. I just had a vague impression that the neighbors were very kind to us. After three days, my brother came back home in a small urn. I carried my brother's urn hanging from my neck in front of my chest. All the neighbors stood at both sides of the Yamabana road to welcome him.

　That night, under the black-covered light, my mother showed us his remains and told us about my brother, but she didn't say anything about his instant death. It was when I later attended a reunion of my brother's friends, where a memorial monument for the student mobilization was built, that I was told about his death by his old friend Mr. Ishiguro. Mr. Ishiguro said my brother was hit by bricks and his white brain was exposed. 'Last effort'. That was the last line of my brother's diary. He always wrote these words in the last line of his diary each day, which means his attitude was always get-up-and-go towards next steps, toward going to upper school, toward the future and everything. It must be a real disappointment for my brother himself, to die young. It is too cruel. I pray for him.

　After war, my brother's classmates edited and published the records of student mobilization. These records have been occasionally fictionalized to novels and dramas, and even this year the 60th anniversary of student mobilization, a book titled 'Epitaph of divested youth' was published. Other publications are as follows:
- Student mobilization records editing board 'Kurenai no Chi wa Moyuru (Blazing Blood' (1971)
- Kazuo Watanabe 'Ah, Kurenai no Chi wa Moyuru (Ah, Blazing Blood)' (1986)
- Akio Sato 'Aiseki 1000nin no Seishun (Lamentation for 1000 Youth)' (2004)

　As my brother was small and weak from birth, my mother always encouraged and inspired him with words like 'Though you lose in sports, win in study' or 'Even though you finish last, never become a dropout.' And my brother always kept her words. Thus it must be unbearable for her to accept his death. When she died later, I found her always embracing his photo in her chest. She made a tanka (Japanese poem of thirty-one syllables) for him.
　- As a mum of you
　I embrace you in my chest.
　Never forget you
　Even for single moment
　Until my last day of life

　-Offering Daphne
　To the tomb of my son
　I enjoyed talking
　To the tomb of my son
　On his memorial day

　-You are still present
　In many people's heart
　Though you died, my son
　You live an eternal life
　Along with their lives

　There is no deeper grief than a mother who has lost her child.
　However, Japan was in the midst of war under the slogan of ' Hundred million nations die rather than surrender', so that, it was inevitably desired that if the elder brother die the younger brother (me) should avenge him. As a result, I tried and passed the Military Preparatory School in April 1945. I became a child soldier of the Imperial Army.

　-Backyard of a barn
　My mum held me silently
　And swept over my back
　Fourteen years child is leaving
　After my brother had gone
　(Senyou Shimamura, Miyazaki city)

　I spent a strict but very constructive life in the Military Preparatory School that was located in Minamikawachi County in Osaka.
　On August 15, 1945, Japan lost the war. Immediately we were ordered to go home in disguised as shabby beggars because it was reported that the US army had already landed at Sakai and was on the way to the school to take over. The principal of the school, Mr. Noriaki Oono, was in Tokyo. Lieutenant colonel Mr. Horio, acting as a deputy, was worried that hot-blooded young soldier students would fight and waste their lives, so he decided to dismiss the school after a tough deliberation.

　On August 16 at night, we left the school in two's and three's with wearing camouflaged clothes. Residents around the school were enjoying the cool night air, after a long absence of peace, sitting on a long bench and having a chat with each other. I could still hear one of them say 'poor boy' to me as they watched us leaving quickly. I managed to make few train connections and at last I could take the Kyoto city train on the next night.

　When the train arrived at Kawaramachi Marutamachi station, I mistook it for the Imadegawa station and got down. At that moment, a conductor of the train bowed down respectfully to me as a child soldier, and said 'Gokurousamadeshita (a mixed meaning of thank you for your dedication and you've done well). I was more deeply touched than ever. Even now in a peaceful era, when I saw the corner of Kawaramachi Marutamachi on a live TV program of ekiden marathon races that are big popular events in Kyoto, I always am remind of that conductor.

　Next morning, my mother welcomed me at home. Both of us held each other's hands, cried and grieved for the loss of Japan. I spent a night at home. I went up to my room on the second floor and looked outside from the window. I was very impressed when I saw many lights were lit in each house across the rice fields. It was the moment I truly recognized the war was over.

　Next day, the radio said 'All the students of Osaka Military Preparatory School should come back to school'. I was surprised, and wore the camouflaged clothes again to go back school. When I arrived at school and went in the dining hall, it was plentiful with 'pumpkin' dishes. We cultivated those pumpkins during school life. They truly tasted very, very nice. However, some schoolmates had never come back to school.

　Child soldier, you were
　Kind and gentle to me.
　Said good-bye in tears
　Said see you again some day.
　On the day the war finished
　(Koshiro, Miyagi prefecture)

　From military school
　My brother came back home,
　When we lost the war
　Didn't say anything at all
　He was only fourteen years old
　(Masako Takada, Kawasaki city)

(Original sentences are on my website (Japanese):
http://homepage2.nifty.com/hideochiai/)

Hideo Ochiai (handle: Honobono)

]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=242 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=242 　A defeated soldier talks about a general. On 6th of January, 20th year of Showa (1945), here on the shore of Tobogon near the north edge of Cebu Island in Philippines, about 150 soldiers of 2nd company and 1st company of machine gun of 1st battali ... Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:06:30 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era A defeated soldier talks about a general.

On 6th of January, 20th year of Showa (1945), here on the shore of Tobogon near the north edge of Cebu Island in Philippines, about 150 soldiers of 2nd company and 1st company of machine gun of 1st battalion and about 100 soldiers of Kamioka battalion, which belonged to 13th independent infantry regiment (Izumi 5316) of 26th division, which were totally 250 soldiers having no information about Leyte, were waiting for boats to return from Cebu City for 5 days, to carry out the order given at the departure from Manila on 3rd of November of 19th year of Showa, to land Leyte.


Our unit was almost divided into squads to stay at vacant cottages of inhabitants. Early in the morning, I heard of the voice spoken hesitatingly Is there a sanitary soldier? Ask him to come.

Supposing the meaning of the voice, I could understand he was not a soldier going with us. I listened again with sleepy eyes to know that he seemed certainly ask for a sanitary soldier.

I said so to Morita senior sanitary superior private sleeping beside me. He said Morita. Go to see him.
Anyway I went out of the cottage with a bag of medical tools. An unfamiliar soldier was standing outside and said to me Come here.

I was not sure of 100 or 200m walking and was shown to the cottage which was not so far. There were three old soldiers in a small room who seemed high class officers. I noticed that one of them had a rank badge of Lieutenant General on his chest. I did not know how to salute to so high class officers. To His Excellency in a leaning pose, Mr. Colonel lying on his back and Mr. Army Surgeon beside him (His rank might be Colonel, but I could not remember exactly) I bowed to salute with sitting on the floor.

Anyway I asked to Mr. Army Surgeon. He said His Excellency was bullet wounded at his left upper arm. The Chief Staff was bullet wounded at his right upper arm. I have nothing for care. Treat their wounds as Im watching.

After watching, His Excellency was two piercing bullet wounded. Anyway I gave the same care and treatment as soldiers and gave a tight bandage.

Next Mr. Colonel, called the Chief Staff, got a scrape on the most upper part of his right arm. The wound was 7~8 cm and muscle was exposed without skin. Piling some pieces of rivanol-gauze thickly and fixing by bandage, I finished a treatment. I asked Mr. Army Surgeon about a preventive injection for tetanus. He praised me Sure thing. You had such a thing fortunately.


During my treatment, the Colonel grimaced, but received my treatment with saying nothing about his pains. So I could treat him easily. But I could not stand that His Excellency complained of pains Ouch, Ouch all the time.

After treatment I had nothing to do. I made a bow and got out of the room. A soldier was standing out of the room. I watched his step to know that ten and some pieces of 100 yen bills of home country were spread to be dried because of being wet with sea water.

I was strangely impressed that His Excellency Lieutenant General carried so big money even at field battle and went back to the cottage of leading group.


Well and now, when I came back to the cottage, all got up already and I reported Kubota superior private on a series of situations of treatment. But he did not believe them and Do you have a dream still after the suns rising up?, he laughed.

The fact that an apprentice sanitary soldier treated wounds for His Excellency Lieutenant General and a high class officer, could not be easily believed by Mr. sanitary superior private, a veteran of 2nd year soldier.


But at lunch time in some hours, it had been well known to the neighboring units that the Commander of 102nd Division advanced to Cebu Island from Leyte and he was injured. Soon after that, the guard unit for His Excellency was so small that our company escorted him on the way to Cebu City.


Some days later, 1st Division had advanced to Cebu Island from Leyte Island holding the Three
Military Flags. First at the time, we knew about the real fact that they fought hard and were decisively defeated.

Thinking again, on 27th of December of 19th year of Showa, we decided to make a march from Cebu City to reach the main battle field of Leyte. What did our five days of hard march for 100km on the east coast of Cebu Island mean?

In a record of war I read after the war, it was written that 14th Directional Forces sent a telegram meaning the direction of self-support and self-fight to 35th troops at Leyte Island on 22nd of December.


I will come back again to the main story. I supposed that leading the army corps for guard to go to the fiercest battle field, and resisting the big enemies with the newest and most powerful weapons by small troops with light weapons, and accepting full responsibility of the worst situation of battle, must be anguish for the Old General beyond description. The movement of the Division Commander to reach Cebu Island was described later in many literatures and reports of the war. Some of them were negative and dishonorable for him. Of course, I was a defeated soldier. How could I talk about the general?


The His Excellency was questioned about his early advance from Leyte at the end of the war and took the rap for war criminal unexpectedly after the war, and he was died before coming back to the home country, I heard.

Anyway it must be a daydream for me that a sanitary soldier of private 1st class treated bandage for the His Excellency who commanded many troops at the battle field with flying the yellow General Flag.


Our troops were called the imperial troops that were admired with many flowery words of honorable, brave, invincible, undefeated, and so on. In the military history that had been dressed with glories and honors for 70 years since the military construction at Meiji Era, the truth beyond our fragmentary imagination was secretly sowed in places where ordinary citizens and private soldiers could not know, I really thought. I observed the hidden part of the history by chance.

End

(The end)]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=241 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=241 　The atomic bomb attacked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but at that time I didn't know about terrible stories so much. After we began to able to talk freely, we knew about a true story. On August 15 when the War was over, I was at home. A notice for circ ... Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:09:39 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era The atomic bomb attacked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but at that time I didn't know about terrible stories so much. After we began to able to talk freely, we knew about a true story. On August 15 when the War was over, I was at home. A notice for circulation passed our home because at noon the Emperor talked to everyone and we had to listen to the radio. Everybody got together in front of a radio. I didn't understand at all because I was a child. I heard the Emperor's high voice. Till his talk was over, everyone stood up and didn't move at all and listened to the radio.
Adults talked each other that Japan was defeated by the War or the War was over.
But in the middle of the situation I was young and so I went to the Asuwa river to swim with a towel and a bathing suit with my friends as usual because they said to me "Let's go swimming!".
On our way home all of us said each other "If Americans come to Japan, they put oil onto or into people and houses and make a fire　and all of Japanese people will be killed."
But we enjoyed swimming as usual and went home. After the night curtains for blackout were taken off, it was light in the rooms. American soldiers came to our village once or twice after the War was over, but we didn't have things which were rumored.


It was strange that the Japanese way of thinking became opposite. Those who were proud before weren't proud of themselves and people suddenly said opposite things (quite different from before). By an agricultural land reform straw rice- bags which were piled up the place in a front door in our house every year had gone. Rice paddies which were produced by tenant farmers before belonged to theirs. My family could manage to make a living because they were a village headman and a postmaster and they had mountains. It was very changeful for my grandparents and parents.


I and my elder sister cleaned up our house for rent in Fukui city with my father after it was burnt down. We pulled a trolley and carried lunch boxes for 3 people and walked towards Fukui city. It took 16 kilometers from our home to Fukui city. My father made a plan for coming to Fukui city by bicycle later.
When I and my sister sat on a river bank and had lunch because we were hungry, a hungry mother and child came up to us and said to us, "We want to share food a little with you because we have had no meal since yesterday."
We gave lunch for my father to them because we felt they were miserable.
I and my sister were proud of our very good behavior because they were very pleased with it. When my father caught up with us later, we told him about it. We were scolded by him strictly because my father had no lunch. We didn't understand why we were scolded in spite of our very good behavior.
I couldn't understand that was why? why? for a long time, but it took a long time that I was big enough to understand it.
My father told me to tell a house mother of my dormitory about the reason and to take lunch for him because my father came to Fukui city, but he had no lunch and couldn't work. I felt like crying and was ashamed, but I visited a house mother of my dormitory to ask her to take lunch for him. Fortunately I could get boiled rice with only dried plum in a big lunch box from her because her baggage was put in my house in countryside to escape from the War.
The experience was a big lesson for me how I lived in the future. I should have had a solution to help a miserable mother and child and leave lunch for my father and finish working as schedule.
It was dangerous that we fell together by our way. We didn't have a good idea because we were children. My father didn't scold us so much because how we solved a problem was difficult for us.


I didn't remember before the War was over, or after the War finished, but my eldest sister cleaned up spots of my mother's chest of drawers and gave it a lift in a cart as a trousseau and she married a man who lived in the same village. 2 elder brothers of her husband went to war and died. Therefore he didn't go to war and was alive.
Her wedding dress was woman's working pants. She is 80 years old now. I remembered that a long time after she got married, her parents prepared wedding dress for her and she had her picture taken. Japanese wedding dress means Japanese traditional wedding kimono (the bride pure white silk kimono called "shiromuku" including "Bunkin Takashimada"-the bride wears a Japanese-style wig done in the bunkin takashimada style with a white cloth headdress.)
After the War was over, we took lessons in our dormitory which was escaped from fire and a temporary house for some time.
After that Japan obeyed MacArthur's orders and the 6-3-3 system of education began.
A girl's school and boys one were mixed and it changed a coeducational school though boy's and girl's friendship was like sin.
A girl's seat was surrounded by a boy (front, behind, left and right ) like a splashed pattern because boys and girls got along with each other early. After that the school district system began in order to get rid of difference in academic standards among schools. Some people couldn't help leaving a school which really wanted to enter.
I felt sorry for them. I graduated from a senior high school in spring in 1954.
I was tossed about a system and change of the times in my young days.

Written in Sept. in 2005.

(The end)]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=240 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=240 　 Anyway we had to secure a place to sleep at the night. We searched vacant houses of local people in the neighborhood and stayed there separately by every squad. Lodging could be easily　secured, it became the biggest job to obtain daily foo ... Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:59:49 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era Anyway we had to secure a place to sleep at the night. We searched vacant houses of local people in the neighborhood and stayed there separately by every squad. Lodging could be easily　secured, it became the biggest job to obtain daily food since the next day. We diverted ourselves by obtaining food everyday, although our long-awaited ships were not given even if November ended.

On 5th of December when we had spent 10days at Daan Bantayan, 2 boats were given hurriedly. For the reason of capacity, 3rd company stayed at the spot. 2nd company and 1st company of machine-gun started to run in full speed on the pitch-black dark sea. Once we felt a shudder of fear when we looked at tracer bullet from a torpedo boat, we could enter Cebu Port safely at 5 oclock of daybreak.

Soon after landing, we received baptism of air raid by more than 10 of North American bombers. It was the large-scale air strike that we had first experienced since landing Philippines. The roaring sound was just as a strong wind blew through a bamboo thicket and was very more effective to blow our fear of failing. We avoided or watched the first air raid. We had no shelter and entered houses avoiding roads and waited for the raid to end. At the bottom of the battle, we realized that we would approach to the main stage step by step. After marching some kilo-meters from the port, we arrived at the camp to have breakfast. We had a meal like meal after a long time.

It was no longer for the unarmed soldiers to eat safely at the camp. We had to take an unexpected duty. We were asked to dig a shelter-moat for the Cebu military hospital at the encampment on hill by several hundreds of soldiers. We were the corps gathered from many places. Digging holes at a hot country was a hard job for us, choosing the interval of air raids.


When we came back to the camp in about two weeks, after releasing from digging a shelter moat, we were provided weapons and bullets and a new set of clothes. We changed our clothes and mind to look like soldiers and the armed forces. We prepared to go to Leyte with a tension.

At the time, Kamioka battalion commanded by Captain Kamioka stayed at Cebu City. This captain, who commanded Kamioka battalion and us, planned to reach Leyte in the shortest course in the direction of the north of the Cebu Island.

We had weapons and clothes and stood in a line in the garden of the camp. Captain Kamioka finished a admonitory address and ordered us. Forward Leyte! Go ahead!

We started to march on 27th under the scorching sun, even in December of the southern country: Philippines.

The troops which aimed at fierce battle, was greedy. We carried everything to the maximum on carts that were down to pans, kitchen knives and cutting boards. The length of our marching file was exceptional.

Our first stay overnight was at Yate which was within the territory of the allied troops. If we could bear the hotness, we could march almost smoothly as the schedule, as there was no need to watch out for air raid and inhabitants often met were friendly.

But the smooth march was ended here. When we went 1km out of Yate village on the 2nd day, we might enter the territory of guerilla. The road was completely blockaded with palm trees and many obstacles. We could not carry carts any more. Therefore, baggage on carts was naturally divided on shoulders of soldiers.

The second stay overnight was at Danao which was a port town. Here, injured soldiers (patient of tropical ulcer and Kato 2nd year soldier) were to move by boat commanded by Shimizu squad leader.

On the 3rd day we could march smoothly by taking off injured soldiers out of the march. We reached Catmon for the third stay and took a long break.

Soon after we started 4th days march out of Catmon, an advance guard was suddenly shot in the darkness before dawn and Sanitary soldier! Forward! was shouted. Ishigami first year soldier was pierced at his upper arm and fortunately had no fracture. I tried to stop bleeding with feeling of hand touch literally. Our side attacked the guerilla by a heavy machine-gun. We took a short break until dawn.

We had the last fourth stay at Borbon. We were woken up to start a march at about 10 oclock in spite of the way of sleeping. We missed the way somewhere. We sank in water under knees, and walked in a bog. We could not easily see a man walking ahead in the darkness of midnight.

At about 3 oclock when long time had passed, we looked up through trees grown thickly. We felt that we walked round and round at the same place.

At about half past four when the sky was turning light, we heard the sound peculiar to the engine of enemy torpedo boat. Embarrassment, tension and fear attacked us at the same time. In a while, sounds of fire and explosion of a rapid-fire gun rung at once. Anyway we could do nothing until passing through the bog. After 3 hours of wandering, we felt relieved to find the way revealed by low tide when the sky turned light. But we felt suddenly tired to know that a white house ahead 500m was where we took a short sleep last night.

We could escape out of the bog as it dawned. At the shore a boat was attacked by a torpedo boat. Shells carried on the boat, caught fire to explode. Brass made cartridge flied up by explosion were scattered in every direction and were more dangerous.

A little later we met the group of Shimizu squad leader that moved by boat. We heard of fear that they were attacked by the torpedo boat and Tanaka private 1st class was injured with both legs to instant death.

We gathered all our strength to reach the goal of Tobogon in the evening of 31st of December, 19th year of Showa. After a long march of 100km for 5 days, we took a long break just in case.


Here near the north part of Cebu Island, there were Mitsui unit of boats and it was certain that we could start for Leyte by boats. At the next day, the New Year began. We had repeated a detour for 2 months since the departure from the Port of Manila, we were just in one more step to Leyte.

We waited for boats for 2 and 3 days, but they could not be seen. In the morning of 4th of January, 1st lieutenant Sakata, the company commander, with the medal of commander, read the whole of the Emperor Words and gave instructions to us in front of soldiers standing in a line with formal military dress. It was the anniversary day for hearing the Emperor Words.

In the morning of 6th after one day, a serious incident had happened. Astonishingly His Excellency of the divisional commander who was supposed to be commanding the division at Leyte appeared at Cebu Island. We had supposed a little about the situation of Leyte, but we had not been made known anything about Leyte at the time. The situation became decisive by the fact that the 1st division (Tama) appeared at Cebu Island with the commander presenting the Three Military Flags. The tales spoken by soldiers were fragmentary, but the whole situation was revealed gradually. Severe fight, desperate battle and defeat were beyond our imagination.

We had also received a baptism of bullets and exchanged gun fight. But during the time we devoured a sound sleep at Cebu Island, our friendly troops fought desperately there, fell down and died.


For all of us, a hope of landing Leyte was decisively crashed at last. We had to stay at Cebu Island under the command of Tama division. Those described above were all situations why we could not land the Island of Leyte.

At Leyte, Japanese 5 divisions belonged by 80 thousands of soldiers, developed desperate fights. The movement of our small unit, that was only 0.5 % of those, could not influence a little to the result of the battle. Nevertheless, I would like to write even a sentence at the blank space of the history that there was a small unit that made all endeavor to reach the front of battle somehow or other and but their endeavor could not been rewarded. These memoirs are the best way for a memorial service and consolation of the souls of our brothers who died regrettably at the southern island, I thought. I tried to write down my memories as above.

Additionally writing at the last, we reached the end of the war on the hill of Illihan on the 28th of August, 20th year of Showa (1945), under the command of Tama Corps. We could come back to the home country peacefully.

End

(To be continued)]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=239 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=239 　 There is nothing impossible if tried hard. On the 16th when a week passed since the running aground, we succeeded to float Kammon-Maru on the sea at last. When we heard the strong sound of engine after a long time and Kammon-Maru moved onto the s ... Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:57:28 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era There is nothing impossible if tried hard. On the 16th when a week passed since the running aground, we succeeded to float Kammon-Maru on the sea at last. When we heard the strong sound of engine after a long time and Kammon-Maru moved onto the sea, we shouted Hurray, weve made it.

This result gave us confidence, which turned belief. We successfully continued to float Mankichi-Maru on 17th, Jinriki-Maru on 19th, and Daiei-Maru on 20th on the sea, which had been worked simultaneously. We thought that they would be impossible, when the battalion commander of Seikichi-Maru ordered us to go after him. But, they had been realized.

All the four boats were dug out. We must be in hurry. We stopped to move at Masbate for 12 days. In the evening of the 21st, we started navigation again to Leyte behind Masbate.

In the morning of the 24th, we anchored at the inlet of a very small island named Jintotolo which was on a little way from Masbate. After the early lunch in the boat, when 4~5 causative soldiers began the preparation on the deck to pick leaves of palm for disguise, suddenly a consolidated bomber appeared at low altitude from the opposite side of the island and attacked us with dropping bombs and machine-gunning and went away. One of the 2nd company was killed instantly and one more was injured. Of our machine-gun company, Kato, 2nd year soldier, was injured in his buttock. It was the fist injury of our company since the landing the Philippines. Fortunately we were not repeatedly attacked and the affairs were settled in a while. But it was an instance that made us realize that we were under attack by guns harder than Manila air raid.

Until the evening, we all buried our comrade of the 2nd company of war death and started night navigation again. We left the island feeling so sorry that he slept alone at a solitary island named Jintotolo in foreign land.

At the next day, 25th, the four boats reached a small fishing port named Daan Bantayan of the island of Medellin located at the north part of the Cebu Island. As the sea was shallow, we could not bring the boats alongside the wharf. I know now it was a really dangerous area which had not any shelter for us.

By these environment and situation, we all were decided to land. When landed, we knew that the friendly troops, the garrison, stayed there. We heard that sounds continually like thunders far away were that of fire at Leyte, and that it would take 7or 8 hours by boat to the west seaside of Leyte, and that we had better make and take rice balls, as cooking could be impossible there . Everything we have heard made us surprised.

So we carried rice out of the boat, and we were very busy to make rice balls using the cooking place of the garrison. In the afternoon we got nervous about the next days battle, an enemy plane came to turn so highly over us and flied away toward Leyte. Soldiers of the garrison advised that boats anchored without any shelter would be easily found and be attacked without fail. In Kammon-Maru, Kato, a 2nd year soldier who was wounded at Jintotolo yesterday, were left alone.

To rescue him, Iida superior private hurried to go in a small boat. It was a job necessary to hurry. He rowed with all his power, moved Kato 2nd year into the lighter, and rowed to the shore.
But a lighter could not run as fast as we hoped.
At the same time the lighter reached the beach, 17 Gruman fighters appeared. They which were divided into 4 groups of 4 fighters attacked 4 boats with a shower of bullets. Nonresistant and defenseless 4 boats were enveloped in flames in a while and it was only a matter of time to fire the ammunition. 4 boats exploded in succession with a great crash. The red-yellow flash was not inferior to the brightness of the sun. It was a scene we could never forget.

I went to the beach to care the patient in a lighter which reached 200m away by the current of tide. So we, several including Iida superior private, ended to watch the shooting and explosion.

Enemy fighters burned down 4 boats by 30~40 minutes of gunfight, without any attack from the ground, leisurely disappeared behind military gains, in formation, in the East sky toward Lyte.

In 3 weeks after departure from Manila, we had experienced a miracle of digging out 4 boats for 10 days at Mastabe. Our desire and hope that we could battle on Leyte tomorrow, even if late, were crashed in a moment.

At the time of 25th of November, we had no information about other front　lines, about Japanese troops at Leyte and about Izumi Corps. We felt easy in fact that the military situation might be developed to our advantage and might possibly celebrate a victory.

But the reality of Leyte on 25th was severe. The 57 regiment (Tama) at Lemon Pass resisted the pressure of US army in desperation. At the south Front, our 3rd battalion of the 13th regiment fought a fierce battle against the US pressure at Dalman and Albuera. They were really the decisive battles at Leyte.

For our wrecked corps that did not know about the serious development at Leyte, the present food was rice balls, but we had no food after tomorrow. More than that, all weapons and bullets disappeared into the sea together with boats.

Of course we had no clothes for change. First of all, I heard this situation was informed to the appropriate organization through the garrison.

(To be continued)]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=237 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=237 　 I did not know which was earlier, dawn or passing of the typhoon. After dawn the sky was blue and we had no wind and breeze. I knew that the typhoon passed, but I wondered why the boat did not swing. No, it did not move. I was more amazed to see ... Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:45:20 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era I did not know which was earlier, dawn or passing of the typhoon. After dawn the sky was blue and we had no wind and breeze. I knew that the typhoon passed, but I wondered why the boat did not swing. No, it did not move. I was more amazed to see no water around the boat. How the boat stood on the beach! Why not! At the right and the left, other consort boats stood in the same pose.


This could not be expressed by being amazed or being astonished. Four boats really went on the beach at the almost equal space. Everybody could not help knowing the amazing fact.

On the four boats, two platoons of 2nd company, some of 3rd company, and commanding team and three platoons of the 1st company of machine gun, who were totally about 300 men, went on board, I supposed.

Anyway, for antiaircraft we got off boats and moved into the woods of palm. When the next measurements were being planned, we found a ship going far off the coast. Immediately, semaphore was tried. We knew that it was Seikichi-Maru where the commander of 1st battalion was on board. Seikichi-Maru changed its direction and approached the beach. As the beach was far shallow, major Saito, the commander, landed by a small boat. He confirmed our situation and ordered us to go after as soon as possible. And he asked one platoon of machine gun to follow him. Tadaka platoon, that was the strongest, got on board in a hurry. The ship started again to Leyte.

On the way of the story, but Tadaka platoon was only one platoon of our 1st machine gun company that could reach Leyte and fought hard as only one platoon of machine gun of the 1st battalion. All soldiers of the platoon including the leader, but excluding S superior private, died an honorable death as demons of Leyte.


By the marine chart provided by the boat, we knew that this island was Masbate. We left the port of Manila in 8 boats of fleet. Seikichi-Maru went to Leyte and 4 boats were here. Other 3 boats were missing since the typhoon at the night. On the 3 boats, one platoon of our company of machine gun, one squad of the battalion of big gun, one company of other battalion, and almost of the 4th company got on board.

The typhoon went through the center of the Philippine Islands to the east and moved from Masbate to Leyte. According to the late news, the 59th regiment spent a night getting soaked to the skin in octopus pots of the Lemon Pass of Leyte at the night of 9th.


Looking at 4 boats that ran ashore more than 100m far from the sea water at low tide, the captains had a consultation and concluded that we should do our best to float boats on the sea even if impossible. However, everythig we had was 2~3 hundreds of soldiers, shovels and several hoes. Of course, we had no engineers or tools. In the afternoon, anyway digging out sands around Kammon-Maru began.

For five days we had been shut up inside the boat with lack of exercise, so we could not immediately work hard. In the blue sky after the typhoon, the burning sun was blazing down continuously.


We stayed at night in portable tents here and there in the woods of palm, and we worked to dig sands continuously at daytime. It was a job that anybody had never experienced and could not be planned. But, thanks to our efforts, we began to think at 3rd day hopefully that we might dig out one boat. We had been doubtful until then, but all of us changed to believe that it was possible if we tried.

At noon of 15th day when everyone believed its possibility, unfortunately Mr. Horaguchi, the captain of Kammon-Maru, was crushed to death by the bottom of boat which leaned to the opposite side. 　Although works were carried on carefully, it was most regrettable that the accident happened due to dangerous works that had not been experienced. We prayed for the peaceful repose of the dead.

(To be continued)]]> https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=236 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=236 　At the beginning"Memoirs of No Battle at Leyte" is reproduced by Katsumi Morita belonged to the 13th infantry regiment of Izumi Corps, with permission of the publisher.(1) Memoirs of No Battle at Leyte On 20th of October in the 19th year of the Sh ... Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:42:05 +0900 Database for Personal Experiences and Records Personal Real-Life Records of Showa Era At the beginning

"Memoirs of No Battle at Leyte" is reproduced by Katsumi Morita belonged to the 13th infantry regiment of Izumi Corps, with permission of the publisher.


(1) Memoirs of No Battle at Leyte

On 20th of October in the 19th year of the Showa (1944), the US forces, which had waited until the time was ripe, began to land to invade the Island of Leyte.
On the landing by the US forces, the response by the Imperial Headquarters, the South General Forces and the 14th Area Forces covering the Philippine Islands, had been described with various opinions after the War, to be well known in the world.


Anyway, the 26th Division (Izumi) which I belonged to, was relieved of the task for the decisive battle on the Island of Luzon, and was given the new task for the decisive battle on the Island of Leyte. We, together with the 1st Division (Tama), were to move to the new island which had been already occupied by the US forces. For the Imperial Headquarters in Tokyo, our movement from Luzon to Leyte might be ordered as if a piece was moved one block on Japanese chess play.


But it was not so simple and easy on the scene, even if the Imperial Headquarters might write down on a military note paper with one sentence of the 26th Division: from Luzon to Leyte. The distance between Manila and Leyte is about 700 km. The air supremacy was already taken by the US forces. The difficulty to transport one division over the sea, where numerous US war planes flied around wildly, was beyond all our imagination. And besides, the two conditions of In quantity and quickly must be satisfactory.

Still and yet, if we had many ships, it might be possible. But our transports were sunken one after another by daily air attack. Any ships named a ship, even if they were of small capacities　 or in low speed, must leave the Port of Manila.


I may be scolded The expression is not good or too bad. Dont you know the hardship of the headquarters? But the situation in Manila looked just so at the time.


After the US forces landed Leyte on 20th of October, Izumi Corps were decided to move to Leyte and we, the 1st battalion of 13th infantry regiment, left port in Manila Bay on 3rd of November.

At the time, I have no exact record about the 2nd battalion. But the 3rd battalion was transported by a high speed ship and arrived at Olmoc of Leyte in about 40 hours and could develop the first battle at the first 10 days of November. Headquarters of the battalion and five companies went board on 8 small boats. Slow and only night navigation by a hot-bulb engine took more than 10 days to arrive in the goal Leyte.

Our navigation was limited at only night to avoid attack of enemy planes. We in boats used to sounds of engine. It rhythmically sounded like a cradle song according to the tire of daytime. We devoured a short time of sleep without knowing hardship of the sailor.

Before sunrise we found an island, and hide the boat under trees of seaside. We took pains to avoid enemy planes attack in awful embarrassment.

In spite of five days navigation after departure of Manila, we could not find Leyte. We could throw a fishing thread and caught nameless fishes at one day time when we could not navigate. We had a peaceful daytime as if we forgot a war.

This peaceful navigation suddenly changed at the 9th day. A big crisis attacked us. In the afternoon of the day, the wind began to blow. When we started to navigate after sunset, it also began to rain.


Being caught in a rainstorm, we could not notice yet that it was due to a typhoon. Our boats had a small capacity filled with 60~70 men, and had no facilities for information or communication by radio. So the isolated fleet could not know the approach of a typhoon.

The boat still continued to navigate, but it increased to rain harder and the wind began to blow strongly. The atmosphere in the boat also began to be abnormal. Although it was midnight, anybody did not fall into sleep. To tell the truth, one of the agreements made at the departure from Manila was that SOS was signed by turning a light in a circle on deck.


The boat rolled and could not go forward. Sakata company commander of Kaｍmon-Maru ordered Someone. Turn a light in a circle on deck. One soldier went out on deck against raining, but soon came back. He said Boats on the right and left sides are turning a light in a circle.

The forces had a really suitable word at the time like this. It is No measures. No help could be expected and nobody could come to help. A small boat of the length of 20~30 meters were played by a typhoon in the ocean. In the situation like this, there is no way except trusting to luck. The sailors put the engine at full throttle and steered with all their might. The boat rolled to right and left, and something anxious started to appear in the boat. But here in the boat, it was no use upsetting or struggling.


How long the storm continued and whereabouts we located could not be confirmed. As long as nothing could be known, we spent a long time of anxiety and fright looking each other without talking.

Occasionally we heard the sound of zazzaa, zazzaa from the bottom of the boat. We had no knowledge about a ship, so we thought without any notice and anxiety that it might be possible when attacked by typhoon.

(To be continued)]]>