Read the heartbreaking final letter of a 24-year-old pilot.

Title: 

Beyond the Sky: The Young Souls of the Kamikaze and Their Final Letters

In my previous post, I wrote about the young trainees of "Yokaren" (Preparatory Flight Experience), boys aged 14 to 17 who entered training with the almost certain expectation of joining the Kamikaze special attack corps. Today, I would like to write about what happened after they graduated from Yokaren, joined the special attack units, and finally made their sorting flights.

While many Yokaren graduates ended up joining the special attack corps, the units were fully organized in October 1944. Triggered by the U.S. military's landing operations on Leyte Island, the Imperial General Headquarters issued the "Sho-Go" (Victory) Operation. At the Mabalacat airfield in the Philippines, 13 pilots, centered around the 10th graduating class, volunteered themselves. They formed four units as the first official Kamikaze Special Attack Corps.

Those four units were named Shikishima, Yamato, Asahi, and Yamazakura. The first to sort on the mission was Captain Yukio Seki, who was the commander-in-chief of the first Kamikaze units and leader of the Shikishima unit. Their operation resulted in the sinking of the U.S. Navy escort carrier, the USS St. Lo. Even today in the Philippines, the Japanese Kamikaze pilots are honored as heroes, and memorial facilities have been built for them.

From that first mission until the end of the war, aerial attacks against enemy ships relied heavily on the special attacks of these young boys, many under 20 years old. Furthermore, the military continued to develop all sorts of special attack weapons. You may have heard of weapons like the human rocket plane "Ohka" (Cherry Blossom) and the human torpedo "Kaiten" (Return to Heaven). These suicide weapons were operated by young teenagers who had barely left childhood behind.

At that time, when the Imperial General Headquarters reported the results of these attacks to Emperor Showa, the Emperor reportedly said to the staff officers, "Did it have to come to this?"

Meanwhile, Allied forces, including the U.S. Navy, were shocked and horrified by the Kamikaze attacks and suicide weapons. They wondered if the Japanese command had lost its mind, unable to believe that such young children were being sent on suicide missions. These attacks instilled immense terror in the U.S. Navy. After an impact, the decks would turn into infernos, with exploding bombs and ammunition scattering in all directions, leaving the casualties in absolutely devastating conditions.

This is only a tiny fraction of the history of the special attack units. Today, you can learn a lot about Yokaren and the Kamikaze through the internet, and I truly hope that young people will take the time to study it. Learning from historical facts is a wonderful thing, and I feel it will undoubtedly be useful when you step out into society. How you think with your own head and feel with your own heart, and what you learn from history, will positively influence the way you live your life thereafter.

There is so much to learn from the last great war. If I were to write about the units in detail, I could never finish it in a few days, so I will leave the rest for next time. Before sorting, many pilots left letters and testaments addressed to their beloved families. Right before takeoff, they wore headbands inscribed with the words "Shichisei Hokoku" (Serve the nation through seven lives).

While many may know this phrase, I believe the true meaning held in the hearts of those young pilots was: "Even if I am reborn seven times, if it is to protect my homeland and my family, I will come back all seven times."

Every year, around August 15th, the media makes a massive fuss about politicians visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. It happens every single year. I wonder when the day will come when our politicians can proudly visit the shrine to pay respects without having to walk on eggshells regarding neighboring countries.

Below is the final testament of one of those pilots:

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✉️ A Letter to Mother

Ensign Ichizo Hayashi Imperial Japanese Navy (Born 1922 – Died in a special attack in the Okinawa area on April 12, 1945, at the age of 24)

Mother, I hope you are doing well.

Our unit's name is the Kamikaze Shichisei-tai (Seven Lives Unit). Today, half of us plunged into the enemy fleet in the decisive battle off Okinawa. Our own sortie is scheduled within the next two or three days.

Mother, please do not feel lonely even if I die. It is a glorious death in battle, and I am grateful to go out in a battle that stakes the rise or fall of the Empire.

Since entering Kyushu by plane, I didn't fly over Hakata, but I sang at the top of my lungs to bid my farewells. I have very few regrets left now.

My outfit for the sortie will be a flight cap, a rising sun headband, and a pure white muffler—I look like a samurai warrior raiding the enemy.

I will carry the "thousand-person-stitch" belt you made on my right, and on my left, the national flag with the words "Even if I fall..." written on it. I plan to go with your photos pressed tightly against my chest.

I know you will be watching. I know you will be praying. Therefore, I will plunge into the target with peace of mind.

For our farewell meal, we get Inari sushi and Yokan (sweet bean jelly). It's quite nice to go with a lunch box. I will also take the dried bonito flakes given to me as a lucky charm. To get to you, Mother, I have to dig through the sea for just a little bit.

It feels like a dream. To think I won't be here tomorrow.

Mother, I will not complain anymore, so please do not cry or complain about me either. Well, it doesn't matter if you cry, please go ahead and cry. But still, please do not be too sad.

I was always loved by people. I wonder what was so good about me? It gives me peace of mind to think that even someone like me had at least some good points. Dying as a lazy, spoiled boy would be a bit painful, after all.

I was really spoiled, wasn't I? Looking back now, it feels too good to be true. My wonderful circumstances are my pride. I intend to keep this pride until the very end. If you take away my background from me, I am zero. I'm quite a lazy boy, but I'm grateful I could step forward as a full-fledged man before others. This became a strange talk, but I'm a bit sleepy today. I will write more if I have time.

There is no need to linger on the farewells anymore. Let us say goodbye here. The lingering attachment never ends, does it?

Let us say goodbye.

I, Ichizo, will go to heaven a step ahead. I wonder if I will be allowed into heaven? Mother, please pray for me. Because I absolutely must go to the place where you will eventually come.

Mother, goodbye.

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May the souls of these heroic spirits rest in peace in heaven, and we will do our best to continue watching over our descendants.

Gassho (With palms joined in prayer)

Asahi Hanasaki 

From this land of prayer, I, Asahi Hanasaki, am introducing the "Harmony of Wa" to the whole world. 

I am a delivery driver in Japan who also helps protect and maintain a traditional Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple. Balancing these two worlds gives me a unique perspective on modern society. Through my writing, I aim to share the warmth of mutual aid and help readers find the courage to live another day.