Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I had just one thought... I must give myself up to defend Japan. We were all ready to die
ing for his own suicide mission, n sending his best-liked airmen first void accusations of favouritism. e was furious when the Emperor ounced Japan’s surrender and was ashamed to visit the parents of nds who completed their missions. amada, now 94, says: “I was single at time and had nothing holding me k. So I had one thought in mind: I t give myself up to defend Japan. We were all prepared to die. So when ard we were defeated I felt like the om had fallen out of my world. It as if my soul was pulled out of me.” panese journalist Mariko Hoi made
KAMIKAZE TRAINER
The Last Kamikazes after discovering her grandfather Kenkichi Matsuo, 95, was an engineer who made bombs for the planes.
Each had five detonators to ensure it exploded no matter which way up the plane fell, just in case the pilot passed out or was shot.
As the Japanese ran out of planes and bullets, the engineers were ordered to make bamboo spears to give to women and children to repel invaders.
Matsuo says: “I thought it was a daft idea but we didn’t have a choice. I thought about an old woman or young girl waving a bamboo spear. It was kill or be killed.” That generation may have been willing to sacrifice themselves for Japan but times change. Today just 11% of Japanese say they would fight for their country, the lowest figure in the world.
Mariko set out to investigate what the kamikazes could teach us about modern suicide bombers.
She says: “I believed the kamikazes willingly took their own lives. I was shocked when Mr Kuwahara told me he and many other pilots didn’t want to die.
“But I was shocked by Mr Yamada’s story too. I spoke to his granddaughter, who was expecting a baby. She would never have been born if he’d died but he still regrets not completing his mission. Both men were upset when I told them suicide bombers today were described as kamikazes. They didn’t choose to die. They were defending the country.”
The Japanese people never believed they would lose the war. Children were taught that sacred storms saved them from Genghis Khan’s unstoppable Mongol army by sinking his ships.
The kamikaze units tapped into these mystical beliefs – the name means “divine wind”.
They also exploited the legacy of the ancient samurai, who killed themselves rather than live with the shame of defeat, convincing the suicide pilots they should do the same. Their training manual told them: “Transcend life and death. When you eliminate all thoughts of life and death, you will be able to totally disregard your Earthly life.
“It is essential that you do not shut your eyes for a moment so you do not miss the target. At the very moment of impact, do your best.
“The spirits of your dead comrades are watching you intently.”
THE Last Kamikazes, BBC World Service, Tuesday, 8pm. Then available at www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio.