Some thoughts of kamikazes before they died.
To Masanori and Kiyoko,
Your father cannot be seen to your eyes, but he is always watching
over you. Listen well to what mother tells you and don't make her
worry. And when you grow up, take any profession you like, and
become a respectable Japanese citizen. Don't be envious of your
friends' daddies. Your Daddy, Masanori and Kiyoko, has become a god
and is always watching you. You two study hard, and help your
mother with her chores too. Masanori and Kiyoko, Daddy can't play
horse with you anymore, but you two chum up and hang close to each
other.
Your Daddy was a jolly fellow who got on board a big heavy bomber
and wiped out the enemy. You two grow up and be as strong as Daddy,
and please avenge my death.
From Father
Lt. Col. Masanobu Kuno, Third Independent Kokutai, KIA 5/24/'45
at age 29
The will was written for his children, five and three years
old.
I felt the moment of transition from life to death approaching
me minute by minute. I gave up my effort to sleep and let my
thoughts wander around. My short life of 21 years is going to
switch to the world of death tommorrow. Some vague thoughts about
my soul being enshrined in Yasukuni Shrine, about the
incomprehensive world of death, and other thoughts came and went. I
thought thee were more things I wanted to do in my life, but then I
wasn't sure what it was that I wanted to do. I didn't know what,
but I was certain there was still much that I had left to do here.
I felt embarassed to realize that I was still so attached to life
after all this time. What a coward! Shame on myself!
I would say to myself "So are you ready now?" and there was a self
that would answer " Yes sir! I'm ready to go", but there was still
another self who never stopped yelling "I don't want to die!"
Goro Nagamine, pilot of the H8K flying boat that flew as pathfinder
for the Azusa Special Attack unit which struck the US fleet in the
evening of March 11th, 1945, writes about his feelings the night
before the mission.
