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Continuation • Ah, Cherry
Blossoms of Same Class (1995)
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Last Letter of Ensign Eiji Itō to His Parents
Sometime between 0630 and 0650 on April 16, 1945, Ensign Eiji Itō 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 3rd Hachiman Goō [1] Squadron from Usa Air Group.
He was from Tōkyō Prefecture, attended Keiō Gijuku University in Tōkyō to study
law, and was a member of the 14th Class of the Navy's Flight Reserve
Students (Hikō Yobi Gakusei).
He wrote the following final letter:
Dear Parents,
Finally I will write my last letter.
I have received an order to make an attack on an enemy warship or cruiser
tomorrow morning between 9:30 and 10:00.
I recall many daily teachings.
I think that probably I will make a fine crash.
By hitting our targets, I believe that our country certainly will be led
to victory. By our attacks, it is scheduled that next our military will make
a landing against the enemy. I know that the significance of our duty is
more honor than I deserve.
Even though I have not been able until now to return your kindness of
raising me, since I went to fall for our country Japan, I think that surely
you will forgive me. For the country, for my fellow countrymen, and for the
persons who did for me some kind of favor, I intend to strive to the utmost.
Although simple, I write my last letter.
Everyone, please be well. Farewell.
Evening of April 15 at Kokubu Base
Eiji
Give my regards to persons in Kanazawa, persons in Sakurai, and other
persons.
Letter translated by Bill Gordon
April 2018
The letter comes from Kaigun Hikō Yobi Gakusei Dai 14 Ki Kai
(1995, 16-7). The biographical information in the first paragraph comes from
Kaigun Hikō Yobi Gakusei Dai 14 Ki Kai
(1995, 16) and Osuo (2005, 219).
Note
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.
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.
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