How to recruit Kaiten Pilots

*Graduates from Naval Academy and Naval Engineering School*

The 71st Naval Academy graduate Lieutenant Takeru Kagaya and Lieutenant Chosa, the 72nd Naval Academy graduate Sub-lieutenant Hiroshi Kuzumi , Sub-lieutenant Fujio Kawai and the 53rd Naval Engineering School graduate Sub-lieutenant Katsutomo Murakami , Sub-lieutenant Hitoshi Fukuda, Sub-lieutenant Shizuyo Todokoro, Sub-lieutenant Kazutoshi Toyozumi and Sub-lieutenant Junji Kawasaki volunteered for Kaiten mission just after they graduated Submarine School (11th graduates.) At this point, the strategy using Kaiten was strictly confidential. It is considered that these officers above had some contacts with Kaiten inventors, Lieutenant Hiroshi Kuroki or Sub-lieutenant Sekio Nishina directly or indirectly. ( Sub-lieutenant Hiroshi Kuzumi was in the same division with Sub-lieutenant Fujio Kawai at their third grade in Naval Academy. Sub-lieutenant Junji Kawasaki was on the battleship "Haruna" with Sub-lieutenant Fujio Kawai before.)

The 70th Naval Academy graduate Lieutenant Yoshinori Kamibeppu and Lieutenant Takashi Higuchi volunteered after the mission involving amphibious tank. The 70th Naval Academy graduate Lieutenant Sanchi, the 71st Naval Academy graduate Lieutenant Mitani and the 72nd Naval Academy graduate Sub-lieutenant Hiroshi Hashiguchi also joined Kaiten mission after they themselves proposed special weapons like Kaiten.

After the 72nd Naval Academy graduates and the 54th Naval Engineering School graduates, Kaiten pilots were selected by taking their request into consideration.

"I was selected as a Kaiten pilot without any notice. However, the assignment to such an important mission was a great honor to me. If asked, it's quite natural for me to join. I am still proud of it, because it proved that I was considered to be well-qualified.
by Konada (former Kaiten pilot, the 72nd Naval Academy graduate)

　See "Life and Death"

*Reserve Student Officers and graduates from Youth Flying Corps*

Absolute volunteer. At Tsuchiura Naval Air Station, 100 graduates from Youth Flying Corps were selected from about 2,000 applicants upon the criteria -- Those who are healthy, strong-willed, aggressive and have a strong sense of responsibility. Also those who do not have to be anxious about their families and affairs after their death (not the only child, nor the eldest son.) Upon recruitment, it was explained that "No chance to come back alive."
Instructions for recruiting states, "You yourself board Special Weapon (Kaiten) and strike the enemy ship. Some danger was involved." "Those who were selected would be sent to the war front after having training in a certain unit for about three to six months."
(Instructions for recruiting did not touch on the weapon's capabilities in order to prevent an intelligence leak. Because Special Attack was kept confidential as surprise attack at the beginning.)

We can not say there were not any problems in recruiting Kaiten pilots. For reserve student officers and graduates from Youth Flying Corps, explanations about Kaiten had to be given to them orally. Also the way to assign officers graduated from Naval Academy and Naval Engineering School. However, it is considered inadequate to see that they were forced and deceived to be Kaiten pilots.

～Other stories shared by Kaiten pilots～　

"Human Torpedo Kaiten" (Asahisonorama)
by Naoji Kozu (former Kaiten pilot, reserve student)

Yoshiro Fujisawa (reserve student)
"(The explanation at that time) made me realize they meant special weapons. Assignment to Kaiten mission was conducted on voluntarily basis and was not the forced one. This is a very important thing. For those who died in Kaiten mission, I firmly believe we should not accept those remarks like 'We were forced to be on a suicide weapon.'"

Megumi Sugimoto (reserve student)
"(At a private interview when I volunteered for Kaiten mission) the commander told me 'You will never return alive. Those who would benefit the most are the people not at the front. Do you realize this? Take your time and think over it once again.' However, it's too late to turn back."

Tonosuke Ono (reserve student)
"At that night I knocked the door of my commander's room. I tried very hard to make him understand my feeling, saying that I wouldn't mind dying as a soldier if elderly people, women and children would live peacefully. Also I told him that I had many brothers so that I didn't have to worry about my family.
I really felt something inevitable when the war situation was really deteriorated. I must prevent to turn my homeland into a battlefield, no matter what. This was my earnest hope.
The commander who listend carefully to me, who was not chosen for the special weapon mission (not informed as Kaiten at that time) told me, 'I understand. You may go now.'"