Japanese Views

‘Shrine Entrance in Snowstorm’ by Tosuke S.

Despite some common belief and wartime propaganda, not all the Japanese people wanted war with either America or England.  Here are some quotes located to help clarify that misconception.

The following quotes have been taken from Saburo Ienaga’s “Pacific War” (Taiheiyo senso) translated by Frank Baldwin.

In the midst of the excitement and successful sinking of the US fleet at Pearl Harbor, Onozuka Kiheiji, former president of the Tokyo Imperial University, whispered to a colleague, “This means that Japan is sunk too.” ___ Ienaga Miyako

Onozuka Kiheiji

This was true for even those members of the political elite who belonged to the cautious school of thought, made their point of view at the Senior Statesmen’s Conference by, Wakatsuki Reijiro: “Do we have adequate resources for a long war or not?  I am concerned about this problem.”  Yonai Mitsumasa added, “In attempting to prevent Japan from being gradually weakened and reduced to a minor power, the government should be very careful that the result is not our rapid defeat and destruction.”  Premier Tojo tired of such talk and refused to listen any further.  He gave his standard reply, “Please, trust in the government.”

Yonai Mitsumasa

Concerning Midway – “…defeat was unthinkable in the early months … Disaster was equally swift and overwhelming.  The attack on Midway Island, planned by Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, Yamamoto Isoroku, an instant military genius after his Pearl Harbor feat, was carried out despite strong staff objections.  An American carrier squadron surprised the Japanese fleet and sank 4 irreplaceable carriers on one day… a catastrophic loss. ___ Fuchida Mitsuo and Okumiya Masatake in “Middoue”

Fuchida Mitsuo

 

 

 

 

 

 

“US Forces landed on Guadalcanal 7 August 1942.  The Japanese garrison, its air supremacy gone and its food supplies cut off, was reduced to starvation.  After suffering enormous casualties, Japanese forces abandoned the island on 31 December 1942.  The retreat was disguised as a ‘strategic withdrawal.’ but this still gave the public the first sign of defeat.” ___ Saburo Ienaga

Saburo Ienaga

The following poem was taken from “Gadarukanaru – sen shishu,” (Poems from the Battle of Guadalcanal), by Yoshida Kashichi, a non-commissioned officer who survived.  It was published in “Showa senso bungaku zenshu“, Vol. 6

 

No matter how far we walk

We don’t know where we’re going

Trudging along under dark jungle growth

When will this march end?

Japanese POWs on Guadalcanal

Hide during the day

Move at night

Deep in the lush Guadalcanal jungle

Our rice is gone

Eating roots and grass

Along the ridges and cliffs

Leaves hide the trail, we lose our way

Stumble and get up, fall and get up

Covered with mud from our falls

Blood oozes from our wounds

No cloth to bind our cuts

Flies swarm to the scabs

No strength to brush them away

Fall down and cannot move

How many times I’ve thought of suicide.

Click on images to enlarge.

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Military Humor – 

 

 

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Farewell Salutes – 

George Brodie – Palm Bch Gardens, FL; US Army, WWII, ETO, 533rd Heavy Tank Maint., Bronze Star

Farewell

Frank Bogard – AK; US Army, Korea, Vietnam, Bronze Star, Med-Corps

Charles Farrell – Indianapolis, IN; US Air Force, Korea

Frank Jarvis – Hamilton, NZ; FAA # 8739, WWII

Gordon Keats – Victoria, CAN; RC Navy, WWII

Lloyd Martin Sr. – Fayetteville, NY; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, P-47 pilot, POW

Frank Quinn – Denver, CO; US Army, WWII, PTO

Joseph Riley – Grove City, OH; US Army, 1 Batt/508 Parachute Inf.Reg/3rd Brig. Combat Team/82nd A/B

Leroy Tilley – Greencastle, IN; US Army, WWII & Korea

Edward Wojtowicz – Joliet, IL; US Navy, WWII, PTO Alaska & Korea

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