|
|
|
|
Continuation • Ah, Cherry
Blossoms of Same Class (1995)
|
|
|
Last Letter of Ensign Toshio Furuichi to His Parents
Sometime between 1230 and 1430 on April 6, 1945, Ensign Toshio Furuichi took off
from Kokubu No. 2 Air Base as pilot in a Type 99 Carrier Dive Bomber (Allied
code name of Val) carrying a 250-kg bomb and died in a special (suicide) attack
off Okinawa at the age of 23. He was a member of the Kamikaze Special Attack
Corps 1st Hachiman Goō [1] Squadron from Usa Air Group.
He was from Kagawa Prefecture, attended Keiō Gijuku University in Tōkyō to study
economics, and was a member of the 14th Class of the Navy's Flight Reserve
Students (Hikō Yobi Gakusei).
He wrote the following final letter with a death poem in tanka form
(31-syllable poem with structure of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables) at the end:
Dear Father and Mother,
It has been a while since I have written. I trust that everyone is
healthy. It is already April, and a typical Ōita spring has come. The cherry
trees here are in full bloom. When I look from a plane above, they have
bloomed with a pink color and can be seen everywhere. The other day I read
the special delivery letter and the sealed letter. I should have replied
quickly, but it is late since I had to do many various tasks.
Since the muffler you inquired about is unnecessary, it is fine not to
send it. Finally the time when I will be useful has arrived. Tomorrow I will
go. Today all of us together prayed at Usa Shrine for fortune in battle.
The cherry trees on the grounds of Usa Shrine were beautiful in full
bloom. I broke off a branch and inserted it into my flight helmet when I
visited the shrine. I also received a pure white muffler. Although both the
uniform and boots were also new, I changed and stored them to be prepared
for the departure to the front. My comrades helped me to sort out my
personal effects, and I put them in order. I asked to send them soon in
a wicker trunk and a regular trunk. Getting permission for a leave, now we
came to Takamotoya. I remembered the time when I visited you. I requested that
they send shirts together with my tanzen (large padded kimono). I was
thinking of taking photos, but there was not free time. Today we took a
couple of photos in my Type 3 military uniform. I requested them
to be sent to Takamatsu [2]. It takes about one
day to develop them. I think that it would have been good to take more, but
it cannot be helped. I put photos inside my wicker trunk also.
Tomorrow I will depart. The war situation is like what you read in the
newspapers.
Since it is a special attack, I do not expect to return alive. I
certainly will sink instantly an enemy ship. When this letter arrives, I
think that I already will have made an attack. Thank you for the many ways
that you cared for me. I apologize for not showing any form of filial piety
up to now. However, I think that you will be satisfied that I can do the
greatest filial piety.
Evening of April 4
To Katsuko
While you are busy in some way, I request that you show filial piety to
Father and Mother. I apologize that I was an unsatisfactory older brother. I
am praying that you will be strengthened when you meet someone and start a
relationship.
To Yōko
Congratulations on getting into Meizen School. Since you are not able to
take classes even though you gained admittance to the school, please take
care of yourself so that in the end we may win the war. I hope that you
carry out your duties on the home front.
To Hideaki
You have become a student in the highest grade at elementary school.
I think that you are asking your teachers and know well what type of thing
is this war. Your being a prankster, I suppose that you are running riot.
Rampaging around is good, but do not cause trouble for Father, Mother, and
Older Sisters. When I go, after that you will remain as the only male child,
and everyone will depend on you. Not being in high spirits is the worst. I
will make a taiatari (body-crashing) attack into an enemy aircraft
carrier. Become a man fitting as a man.
For the Emperor a young cherry blossom prepared beforehand
Will fall with that fragrance smelling sweet forever
Letter and poem translated by Bill Gordon
July 2018
The letter and poem come from Kaigun Hikō Yobi Gakusei Dai 14 Ki Kai
(1995, 95-7). The biographical information in the first paragraph comes from
Kaigun Hikō Yobi Gakusei Dai 14 Ki Kai
(1995, 95) and Osuo (2005, 215).
Notes
1. Hachiman is the Japanese god of military power.
Usa City in Ōita Prefecture has the first Hachiman Shrine, which was established
in the early 8th century. Goō means "protecting the Emperor" in Japanese.
2. Takamatsu is the capital city of Kagawa
Prefecture.
Sources Cited
Kaigun Hikō Yobi Gakusei Dai 14 Ki Kai (Navy Flight
Reserve Students 14th Class Association), ed. 1995. Zoku
• Ā dōki no sakura (Continuation
• Ah, cherry blossoms of same class). Tōkyō:
Kōjinsha.
Osuo, Kazuhiko. 2005. Tokubetsu kōgekitai no kiroku (kaigun
hen) (Record of special attack corps (Navy)). Tōkyō: Kōjinsha.
|
