Historical fiction: War through the eyes of a 17-year-old Kamikaze

Figure 1: Last Letters of Corporal Yukio Araki. Source: Kamikaze Images

As we shot through the mist, the East Chinese Sea and the horizon started blending into a grey stone like shade. This time, along with our target American ship the USS Braine, DD-630, sticking out like a sore thumb. It was the same ship that had been engraved in our heads since our mission was announced, looking exactly like the photographs that were shown to us hundreds of times. I looked to my right, my hands trembling, holding tight onto my flight stick, I counted…

Nine.

There were only nine of us left. I remember the days when we used to have twelve members as the proud 72^nd Shinbu Squadron. Ten, when we took off from Banse. It doesn’t matter anyways, soon, there would be none of us.

Suddenly, a loud bang snapped me back into focus. One by one, my comrades crashed into the ship, flames were filling the air outside. I managed to catch a glimpse of my best friend’s unwavering face before he disappeared into those flames. I froze. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.

I remember the first time I met Araki Yukio when I first volunteered to join the 15^th class of the Army’s Youth Pilot (Shōhi) programme. He was bright and had always been dedicated. When we did our base training together, he even graduated with an award for outstanding achievement, skill and attitude. During our countless nights together, he would tell me about his three younger brothers back home in the small city of Kiryu in Gunma Prefecture, as well as his older brother who was joining the military this year. Yet, his favourite thing to brag about was always the story of how he had won first prize in a contest to keep a model plane aloft for the longest time when he was still a small child. I would always tease him about being so darn earnest even when he was young just to get a reaction out of him.

Even during our vigorous training, he was the most optimistic person in our division. Our elders adored him, our commanders praised him. We would fly up to 2000 meters then dive down at a 45-degree angle. At above 500 meters, we’d pull out of the dive, with this deadly and dangerous drill being repeated every day. Unlike me, Yukio never complained. The day that our commander asked our division if we were willing to sacrifice for our country and emperor, Yukio was also the first to raise his hand, followed by most, then all the group. I had been one of the last to do so...

I remember when I first felt patriotic, determined to be an Eirei (guardian angel) for our country and go on the news to make my family proud, but soon, all I felt was doubt and fear as we waited for our type 99 assault planes to be outfitted for kamikaze attacks. At this second, after seeing my comrades do their duty in front of my eyes, all I want is for time to rewind. Maybe then I will be more attentive to my mother, or treat my little brother better. I want to go back… back to my mother’s embrace and tell her that I love her in person one more time. My hands trembled as I held my flight stick tight.

A few seconds later, the Braine started shooting back. I instinctively flew up to avoid them – I will do my duty when I find my chance. I cannot turn back now. Just think about father's disappointed face. My commanders will be so angry, how will they even let me live? Even the children who are always hanging out on the streets in my hometown will mock me and call me a traitor, me and my family will be labelled a disgrace. I can’t ruin my family’s name. I can’t turn back now.

I will do this. This is what I have been trained to do, I can do this. I recall the story that Yukio always told about the legend Toyotomi Hideyoshi. I will be strong for my homeland, just like 2^nd Lieutenant Shiro Watanabe of Kitsuki, I can do this, this is the only way. 

My hands continued to tremble as I pushed my flight stick forward, the glare of tracer fire reflected through my eyes. Soon, the USS Braine came back into view, but only for a second, before my teary eyes had made it blurry. Just like in training, I mumbled to myself, as the shape and outline of the Braine looked bigger, blocking out the noise of the US bullets stinging my plane, my red eyes pumped with adrenaline. I will never disgrace the tradition of our family line. Father, I shall die with pleasure, this is my duty. And Yukio, I will meet you at Kudan with the Cherry trees blooming soon, just like we promised.

Author’s note and historical context:

This narrative is a work of historical fiction based on the real-world events of May 27 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa.

Araki Yukio (1928-1945) was a real 17-year-old corporal who was part of the 72^nd Shinbu Squadron in the Imperial Japanese Army Air force. He was also one of the six out of nine members in the Squadron that were teenagers during the attack on the USS Braine. He is widely known today from the famous photograph taken hours before take-off showing him and four other teenage pilots holding a puppy.

The 72^nd Shinbu Squadron was a specialised Tokkotai (kamikaze) unit formed in early 1945. They launched their final mission on May 27 1945, from Bansei Airfield. While launching, one of the ten planes that originally took off from Bansei developed engine trouble, so the pilot had to return. In reference to the two members who were absent, one pilot lost his life and another was injured when they received orders to proceed to Nanking China due to confusion in the military command at the time on April 21 1945, a month prior to the mission.

In the letters from Araki Yukio to his three younger brothers, he makes references to the legend Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was a Japanese samurai and feudal lord who unified Japan in the late sixteenth century. Even though they made unsuccessful attempts to conquer Korea and China, it was frequently invoked in wartime education to instil warrior ethos, loyalty and national pride in schoolboys.

In Araki Yukio’s well documented letters and short notes to his family, he also talks about how he ‘will be waiting for the day we meet at Kudan with the cherry trees blooming’. Kudan Hill is located in the Kudan district, and is used to honour those who died in service to the Emperor. It is also noted that the pilots frequently pledged to one another that they would reunite “under the cherry blossoms at Kudan” in the afterlife.

The concept of Eirei (Guardian Angel) and the story of the first kamikaze (2^nd Lieutenant Shiro Watanabe of Kitsuki) was widely used as propaganda in the press, mostly targeting younger men to volunteer.

‘I will never disgrace the tradition of our family line’ and ‘I will die with pleasure’ was quoted from a real kamikaze – Hiroshi Obata.

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