- As an antiwar website -

Never repeat this tragedy

*The words left by Sub-lieutenant Nishina*


Sub-lieutenant Nishina
(One of the inventors of Kaiten, died in the first Kaiten mission as the commanding officer of Kaiten Group "Kikusui")

"We (The will of Kaiten pilots) will lay the ground for Japan's further prosperity. We will not die for nothing."　

　

*From Web Master of this site*

It was said that their death by Special Attack was meaningless at the time when Japan definitely was heading toward the defeat. I think this idea is due to the perspective of those who do not know the situation at that time and also due to the GHQ's occupation policy over Japan after the war defeat.
I believe what Sub-lieutenant Nishina and other Kaiten pilots would really like to tell their next generation (us) is, "Never give up even when one is in the depth of despair." and "We saved our country (people) at the risk of our lives."


Kaiten attack sank the U.S. oiler Mississinewa

When Japan was facing the desperate crisis (the destruction of the country), brave soldiers including Kaiten pilots made sorties to defend the country and its people and sank many enemy ships. Among them were heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis which carried the major components for atomic bombs to Tinian (airfield for B-29), that would be used to destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing 300,000 people in a flash. (On her way back, she was sunken by depthcharge from submarine I-58, Kaiten Group "Tamon".)

Pluses and Minuses of Atomic Bombing (Sinking USS Indianapolis,
carrying the major components for atomic bomb)

The tactic "Special Attack", completely disregarded the man's instinct for survival, caused some troubles in training and strategy when the deteriorated war situation dragged on. At this point, not all the Kaiten pilots died with the feeling as Sub-lieutenant Nishina had. However, we, the Japanese can greatly be proud of the fact that there were many young soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend the country, thinking of the future of the country. And at the same time, this can be said to be the utmost tragedy. In order to make many more people around the world know this fact, by sharing this even in small ways, it may help antiwar and peace movements. I hereby send out this message to the world.

We should never repeat wars. Neither, the Special Attack.

I, as a webmaster of this antiwar web site, pay my profound respect to the souls of all who perished in wars all over the world. I sincerely hope their souls will be with us in achieving our goals of establishing world peace in the future.