At 1535 on April 28, 1945, Ensign Takuya Adachi took off
from Kushira Air Base as navigator/observer in a Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber
(Allied code name of Kate) carrying an 800-kg bomb
and died in a special (suicide) attack off Okinawa at the age of 24. He was a member
of the Kamikaze Special Attack Corps 1st Seiki Squadron from Hyakurihara Naval
Air Group. He was from Hyōgo Prefecture, attended Tōkyō Imperial
University, and was a member of the 14th Class of the Navy's Flight Reserve Students
(Hikō Yobi Gakusei).
He wrote the following final diary entries in 1945 at Hyakurihara Air Base in Ibaraki
Prefecture before he moved forward to a base on Kyūshū on April 13 to wait for his
special attack sortie date:
March 25
The men to save the country are exclusively great persons at the grand
center. The Special Attack Corps that has appeared in our divine land is
undoubtedly a miracle to save the country. That is no more than a fortress
against material strength. It is only when there is a strong government that
the country can be full of vigor.
Saying "I will follow after you" is not merely believing in following men
who will fight with determination to die. The sacrifices of the Special
Attack Corps are nothing but men who greatly desire that the country advance
more. Truly the men who will save the country are those great persons to
emerge who, even though they may not possess a wise appearance, remain calm
and do not quiver at any kind of adversity, compare their positions to the
lightness of a large bird's feathers, and live only based on honest
morality. However many special attack units appear one after another, the
government that is operating at the core will have an empty presence, and sooner or
later a ruined country's fate will arrive.
April 2
In my school life after my intellect awoke I continued my anguish and
thinking about history and death. That was left unresolved.
However, now that has been resolved with a different meaning. There is no
longer a place for anguish and suffering. That has no meaning and has
meaning. It is the resolution of the unresolved matter.
April 6
Ah, the special attack units made sorties. My comrades went as we waved
our hands at the planes.
The crewmen and maintenance workers with tense faces gazed after them
waving their hats. For those sending off and those being sent off, it was a
parting where they will not meet again. The aircraft gathered together in
the skies above and departed as they banked to the dawn skies. Headed for
the place of decisive battle in the Ryūkyū Islands.
Today the cumulus clouds slowly were going away. The blue sky in a direct
ray adorned the place in bright color, and the sunlight colored with
splendor the dimness of the airfield. This was a sacred moment when history
was made.
With all my heart I pray for their daring mission with the opportunity to
not return. I do not have ten days, and I will join in this heroic
undertaking.
April 7
The special attack squadrons will dive into enemy ships. Before the
command stand, the flag at half-mast is waving softly in the spring wind.
April 11
Special attack squadrons were formed. They received the honor of a
sortie.
April 12
Father, Mother, tomorrow on April 13 I will receive the honor of being a
member of the Special Attack Corps and will make a sortie.
I am full of vigor and burning with fighting spirit.
I appreciate your kindness, and I pray for your happiness.
Take care of yourselves, and I will be by your side as always.
On the day that the cherry blossoms bloom . . .
To Younger Sister, please become a splendid mother. I ask that you show
filial piety in place of me.
April 13
On April 13, my squadron's plane that I was manning passed through the
skies of our hometown Kami [1]. Being able to give my farewell from the
skies gave me more joy than anything.
The diary entries come from Kitagawa
(1970, 178-80). The biographical information in the first paragraph comes from
Kitagawa
(1970, 178) and Osuo (2005, 224).
