Many lives lost on the day before the end of the war Traced by the testimony of the "Battle of Kasumi" August 10, 18:50

On August 14, 1945, two ships of the former Japanese Navy were sunk by an American submarine in the Sea of ​​Japan in northern Hyogo Prefecture.

It was the day before the end of the war when 56 people lost their lives.

This battle, which is considered to be the last naval battle of the Pacific War, is traced through the testimonies of teenagers who were present at the time.

(Kobe Broadcasting Station cameraman Mitsumasa Fukumoto)

The day before the end of the war, the “fishing ground” became a “battlefield”

Kami-cho (former Kasumi-cho) in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture is famous for snow crab and flounder.

On the day before the end of the war, a former Imperial Japanese Navy vessel that was escorting transport ships was torpedoed by an American submarine and sank in the waters about 6 km off the coast of Kami-cho.

Two hours later, another ship was also attacked and sunk.

56 of the 411 crew members of the two ships lost their lives in this battle, called the Battle of Kasumi.

This tragedy, which occurred just one day before the end of the war, was not reported to the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was not widely known for many years due to the turmoil after the end of the war.

However, many locals witnessed the situation.

Regret that I couldn't help

Jitsuya Miyashiro (then 16), a private trainee in support of the Navy, and about 30 other trainees witnessed the engagement from a rowboat heading for rescue.

The ship was right in front of us.

A big white water column was rising with bone, bone.

(Japanese ships) responded with depth charges (bombs for attacking submarines).

"This is a battlefield," I said nervously.

A torpedo hit (a Japanese warship) and exploded from the top of the ship.

The ship split in two.

Mr. Miyashiro wanted to rescue the soldiers who were thrown into the sea.

But the order to turn back had been given, saying that the boys could not be put in danger.

I regretted that I had to turn back from the sea.

He wished he could have helped even one of the soldiers, and he felt very sorry.

Last Witness Rescue by Private Fishing Vessels

Paddle boats with boys turned back, while many fishing boats went out to save the soldiers who had been thrown overboard.

Mr. Shigenobu Yamawaki (then 11), who was a student at a national school, watched from up close how fishing boats rescued soldiers offshore and returned one after another.

At dusk, wounded soldiers came one after another to the dock.

I heard that some people died after drinking oil floating in the sea while drifting.

The soldiers had nowhere to go, but more than 100 private houses voluntarily accepted two or three soldiers and provided them with dinner and rooms.

At night, two soldiers came to stay at my house.

The war would have ended in a day, so (the victims) shouldn't have had to die.

It was just cute.

Going out to sea to rescue soldiers involved great danger.

" In

the unlikely event that an enemy attack causes damage to a fishing boat or casualties, who will compensate for it?

"

The tense exchanges at that time remain in the history of the Kasumi-cho Fishery Cooperative Association.

I think the fishermen were determined to help the soldiers who were thrown into the sea.

We who are involved in the fishing industry do not know when we will be in distress.

I think it's a natural behavior for those who live in the sea.

Seventy-seven years after the end of the war, I am now the only one who saw how the soldiers were rescued at the fishing port.

It was the Obon season at the time, and the town was filled with the smoke of incense sticks from people visiting graves.

Many coffins were needed, but due to wartime shortages, they were unable to prepare them. It is written in the history of the Kasumi-cho fishermen's cooperative association that they offered flowers to the coffins of the people who lost their lives and joined hands with nature.

Passing on to the current teenager

There is a growing movement to pass on the experiences of teenagers at the Battle of Kasumi to today's teenagers.

Every year, members of the Junior Chamber International Kasumi visit elementary and junior high schools in northern Hyogo to convey the thoughts of those who were involved in the battles and rescues that took place in the Sea of ​​Japan right in front of them.

It left an impression on me that the junior high school students

risked their lives to save the soldiers of the sunken coastal defense ship.

I think people at that time were scared because there was a war going on in the sea nearby.

This is the first time I heard about the Battle of Kasumi.

I would like to share what I heard today with my family and friends and broaden my thoughts.

Mr. Mitsugu Shimazaki, Kasumi Junior Chamber

Every year, I tell people about the war and the warmth of the local people.

I think it's the history of war that I want to pass down more and more and let everyone know.

We feel a responsibility to pass on the story

A student of a rescued soldier will be handed down to future generations in a book

Among the rescued crew members was a young soldier as young as 15 years old.

This is the late Akira Kanno, a survivor of this battle.

The experience of being rescued by a fisherman after sinking was left in the notes during life.

The seawater was very cold with my body submerged in water and only my face exposed.

She then heard a voice say, "Help is here!"

A fishing boat!

Engine sounds!

Many fishing boats came to the rescue from the coast.

I will never forget the words of the fisherman who held out his arm while I was floating.

"I've come to help, but I'm sorry that there are only old people. My son didn't go to the army. Only the old people and the Women's Association protect the house and the community."

Kanno later became an elementary school teacher in Tokyo, and would sometimes tell children stories about how he was rescued by a fisherman on the battlefield.

Mr. Jun Shimada, who was one of his students, was inspired by Mr. Sugano's story and compiled this "Kasumi offshore battle" into a book.

I think it's very brave that the crew was thrown out and the fishermen went to the rescue despite the danger.

I believe that generations like me who have never experienced war have a responsibility to pass down the facts of war to the next generation.

A requiem monument is still left on the hill of the Kasumi coast overlooking the sea.

The inscription "Peace Promise" conveys the feelings of the locals who have cherished the history of war.

In the Sea of ​​Japan that spreads out before your eyes, two warships still lie dormant, quietly speaking to the people about the fact that war was part of their lives.

Mitsumasa Fukumoto ,

cameraman for NHK Kobe Broadcasting Station Joined

in 1997.

Responsible for political changes in the Arab world at Cairo branch office in Egypt.

After working at the Kyoto and Hiroshima stations, he will join the Kobe station in 2021.

Covering the diverse charms of his hometown, Hyogo Prefecture.