In proportion to the strength of the heart of love for people, the determination to lay down one’s life for love becomes stronger. Just as Jesus Christ did.
This is the secret of the strength of Japan’s young samurai. It is never a strength that arises from a savage heart. As proof of this, I hope that you will read these letters of heroic spirits, and I will post them here.
We, the people of Japan, wish for the happiness of your country and the happiness of people all over the world.
Before the sortie. To Rinko. And to Aiko, who will be born in the future.
Captain of the Special Attack Team “Shinbutai”
June 11, 1945 Killed in action in Okinawa
He was 31 years old
I was chosen to be the captain of the attack squad and spearhead the decisive battle with 11 young cherry blossoms, who were only under 20 years old. Thinking that there is a way to win a battle without dying is a shallow thought of ordinary people. When I have made up my mind that I will surely die, and with that feeling all my army will face the enemy, God alone will know the outcome of the present battle. It is truly a national crisis. Even if I die, it’s not dead. I will continue to live in the eternal cause.
1.Even if I die, don’t be a lonely child. I also lost my parents to illness when I was a child, but I never lost my cheerfulness and grew up. Moreover, if you hear that I went to war and fought bravely and died, a child born and raised in Japan should be happy. If you miss me, look at the sky, I’ll always be smiling on the white clouds in the sky.
2.I want them to grow up to be honest people. Winning the battle does not mean that the national crisis is over. It is important to study hard until peace prevails in the world and people all over the world are happy. Kids, get along. For you to worship my ancestors with your mother and live cheerfully and cheerfully is the greatest filial piety for me, your father.
As a flight officer, I truly rejoice in my honorable duties and become a kamikaze that will bring true spring to Japan. I am always grateful for the Emperor’s gratitude, and even though the world changes, I will never forget my loyalty to him.
3.Your mother is a really good mother. There are many wives of flight officers, but none of them are as prepared to take on everything as a Japan woman as your mother. I was always grateful.
It is my regret that I did not have many opportunities to make your mother happy because of my busy wartime life. When you grow up, please be filial to your mother for me, this is my request.
Houses were burned down in large cities due to enemy bombing, and the number of boys and girls who lost their parents is unlimited. When I think about it, I am heartbroken.
Don’t forget that you grew up truly happy in the arms of your mother and grandparents.
There are many things to write about, but when you grow up, I hope that you will listen carefully to what your mother says, understand her burden, and never be selfish.
Therefore, there may be a slight mistranslation or a slight nuance mistake.
I paid close attention to the English translation, such as translating it into Japanese again and checking it, but I would appreciate it if you could take that into consideration and read it.
Just in case, I’ll post the original text below.
Thank you for taking an interest in Japan culture.
陸軍少佐 渋谷健一命
特別攻撃隊振武隊隊長
昭和二十年六月十一日 沖縄方面海域にて戦死
山形県松峯町字片町出身 享年三十一歳
父は選ばれて攻撃隊長となり、隊員十一名、年齢僅か二十才に足らぬ若桜と共に決戦の先駆となる。死せずとも戦に勝つ術あらんと考ふるは常人の浅はかなる思慮にして、必ず死すと定まりて、それにて全軍敵に総体当りを行ひ、尚且つ、現戦局の勝敗は神のみぞ知り給ふ。真に国難といふべきなり。父は死にても死するにあらず、悠久の大義に生るなり。
一、寂しがり屋の子に成るべからず母あるにあらずや、父も又幼少にして父母を病に亡したれど決して明るさを失はずに成長したり。まして戦に出て壮烈に死すと聞かば日の本の子は喜ぶべきものなり。父恋しと思はば、空を視よ、大空に浮ぶ白雲にのりて父は常に微笑で迎ふ。
二、素直に育て、戦勝つても国難は去るにあらず、世界に平和がおとずれて万人太平の幸をうけるまで懸命の勉強をすることが大切なり。二人仲良く母と共に父の祖先を祭りて明るく暮らすは父に対して最大の孝養なり。父は飛行将校として栄の任務を心から喜び、神明に真の春を招来する神風たらんとす。皇恩の有難さを常に感謝し世は変るとも忠孝の心は片時も忘るべからず。
三、御身等の母はまことに良き母、父在世中は飛行将校の妻は数多くあれども、母程日本婦人としての覚悟ある者少し。父は常に感謝しありたり。戦時多忙の身にして真に母を幸福にあらしめる機会少く、父の心残りの一つなり。御身等成長せし時には父の分まで母に孝養つくさるべし。之父の頼みなり現時敵機爆撃の為大都市等にて家は焼かれ、父母を失ひし少年少女数限りなし。之を思へば父は心痛極りなし。御身等は母、祖父母に抱かれて真に幸福に育ちたるを忘るべからず。
書置く事は多けれど、大きくなつたる時に良く母に聞き母の苦労を知り決して我儘せぬやう望む。
英霊の言乃葉 1