Battle of Okinawa As the grandson of the commander who gave the "outrageous order", October 8th, 16:22
The Battle of Okinawa at the end of the Pacific War, which killed 120,000 citizens of the prefecture.
There is a man who keeps pursuing the answer as to why so many Okinawans were involved in the battle.
Mitsuru Ushijima (67), his grandfather is Mitsuru Ushijima, the commander of the 32nd Army of the Imperial Japanese Army, who commanded the Japanese army during the Battle of Okinawa.
(World News Department Reporter Mitsuko Nishikawa)
"Symbol" of the Battle of Okinawa
Mitsuru Ushijima, the highest-ranking executive of the Imperial Japanese Army.
A typical elite officer from Kagoshima prefecture who graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy and Army War College, he was called "Kosaigo" because of his appearance and behavior, which was likened to Saigo Takamori in his hometown.
His achievements in the Sino-Japanese War were also highly evaluated, and he trained officers to command soldiers on the front lines as the principal of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy until just before the Battle of Okinawa.
Ushijima, who arrived in Okinawa in August 1945 as the commander of the 32nd Army, will proceed with the construction of a headquarters pit in the basement of Shuri Castle.
A 30-meter-long, 1-kilometer-long tunnel was dug to withstand the heavy bombardment of the US military, and more than 1,000 HQ personnel remained underground.
From this underground command center, which can be said to be the heart of the 32nd Army, Commander Ushijima will command frontline units deployed in various parts of the main island of Okinawa and engage in fierce battles with the US military.
The 32nd Army continues a thorough fight, but the overwhelming attack of the US Army causes casualties on the Japanese side, and Japanese troops including HQ personnel abandon Shuri and withdraw to the south.
Shortly after being promoted to the last general of the Japanese Army in late June 1945, Ushijima decided to commit suicide in the cave of Mabuni, Itoman City.
Ushijima has been given a negative reputation in Okinawa as a symbolic figure of the Battle of Okinawa, where many residents were killed after the war.
Okinawa that I have avoided
This is Mr. Sadamitsu, the son of Ushijima's third son.
Born and raised in Tokyo, I grew up without knowing my grandfather directly.
It was said in the family that "the old man was fine and kind," and the house was always decorated with pictures of his good-looking grandfather in military uniform.
When I was in elementary school, my family worshiped at Yasukuni Shrine.
After graduating from university, Mr. Sadamitsu became an elementary school teacher.
I have avoided going to Okinawa.
However, in 1994, I decided to visit Okinawa for the first time after I was over 40 years old.
When I was approached by a guide on the Battle of Okinawa learning tour with my fellow teachers, I faced the footsteps of my grandfather.
Mr. Sadamitsu
: "I was told,'A person who is one character different from the commander is participating in this tour.' Ah, at first I thought that I was exposed, but I said,'Old man. Why don't you look it up yourself? I'll help you too. ”I was given a long homework.”
Face the Battle of Okinawa
After that, Mr. Sadamitsu came to visit Okinawa frequently.
I started to collect materials of the war and interview the experienced people.
One of them was Kikuko Miyagi, a former member of the Himeyuri students who died five years ago, which was formed by mobilizing high school girls as nursing staff.
Mr. Miyagi vividly remembered Ushijima.
On the way to the south, Ushijima stopped by a Japanese army moat and talked to Mr. Miyagi, who had a book.
Mr. Miyagi had a novel by American writer Margaret Mitchell, "Gone with the Wind."
Mr. Miyagi
: You said, "What kind of book are you reading?" I was very surprised. I wondered what to do because it is an American book, but I just asked that question and left. I was impressed. I thought he was kind. "
I was surprised by the surprising remarks made by Mr. Miyagi, who was a survivor of the Himeyuri students who caused many casualties and strongly appealed for anti-war.
Why a gentle grandfather
On May 22, 1945, more than 50 days after the battle began, Ushijima decided to abandon the headquarters pit in Shuri and withdraw to the southern part of the island.
Many people had already been evacuated to the south, resulting in a turbulent battle between the military and civilians, killing many.
About 120,000 people have died in Okinawa.
It is estimated that 82,000 people died where and when they died, and at least half of them, or 46,000, died a month after the withdrawal from Shuri.
Mr. Sadamitsu thinks that his grandfather should have known what the consequences of the withdrawal from the South would be.
I knew that the inhabitants were evacuated and that the US military was overwhelming.
Mr. Sadao Ushijima
"Why did you choose to withdraw from the South? I think that if you are a good commander, you would not issue such an order."
Preservation and disclosure of negative heritage
Mr. Sadamitsu came to think that it was important to preserve and open the headquarters pit where his grandfather's outrageous orders were given.
Due to the danger of collapse, entry is prohibited for a long time, and it seems that many remains are left behind.
Mr. Sadamitsu says that it is a place to show what kind of war the Battle of Okinawa was and why the victims of the prefecture increased.
I also think it's a place to know the background of my grandfather's decision.
Mr. Sadamitsu obtained a special permission to enter the 32nd Army Headquarters in 1997 and realized an internal investigation.
After that, he continued to collect and investigate materials from the US military and the former Japanese military, and now he is one of the few experts who knows the inside of the moat in detail.
The collected materials are numerous, and each one is made into a figure so that it can be explained to children.
As a grandchild, as a person
At the end of October last year, the main hall of Shuri Castle, which is the above-ground part of the 32nd Army Headquarters, was burnt down, and activities for reconstruction are underway in Okinawa Prefecture.
In response to Mr. Sadamitsu's thoughts, in June, local volunteers and experts set up a meeting to request the preservation and opening of the moat.
Members of the association say that it is important to get inside the 32 army pits and relive the history of the time so that they will not make the same mistakes again.
At the same time as the symbol of Okinawa on the ground, leaving the negative heritage underground is the starting point for spinning peace, and Mr. Sadamitsu looks forward to the release.
Mr. Sadamitsu
"I think I was destined to find out what happened in the past by being born to the commander's grandson. I can't take responsibility for the past. What happened in the past. I think we can share this fact with people of the same generation and the next generation. "
Sadamitsu believes that it is his mission to preserve the battle ruins of the 32nd Army Headquarters and tell what happened here.
World News Department Reporter
Mitsuko Nishikawa
Joined in 2001
After working at the Wakayama Bureau and the International Department, was in charge of covering the English news program "NEWS LINE JAPAN".