Choosing life: Son uncovers his father’s hidden past as kamikaze pilot

2 comments

1. As a youth, I studied a style of Karate founded by an Okinawan who had immigrated to the US. If I’m remembering his story accurately, during the war he was drafted and ‘had the opportunity to volunteer’ (i.e. actual choice not included) as a *Tokkoutai* (kamikaze pilot). He was only a couple of days away from flying, and in fact the war ministry has already sent his death certificate and ceremonial sword to his family, when the war ended and his life was spared.

2. I don’t see shame in simply being a kamikaze pilot. The shame was in the government’s actions back then. Many militaries have given suicide missions when they thought it would save other lives.