Letters of Ensign Sōichi Mizuchi to His Parents
On June 27, 1945, Ensign Sōichi Mizuchi died at the age of 21 when submarine I-165, which was carrying two
kaiten manned torpedoes, was sunk by a US Navy patrol plane east of Saipan. On June 15,
1945, submarine I-165 made a sortie from Hikari Kaiten Base in Yamaguchi
Prefecture with 104 crewmen and two kaiten pilots who were members of the Kaiten
Special Attack Corps Todoroki Unit. All men on board died when the submarine
was attacked. Mizuchi was from Hyōgo Prefecture, attended Waseda University in
Tōkyō, and was a member of the 4th Class of the Navy Branch Reserve Students
(Heika Yobi Gakusei). He received training at the Navy's Torpedo School. He
received a promotion to Lieutenant after his death, which was recognized by the
Navy as part of a special (suicide) attack.
Mizuchi wrote the following letter to his father:
Dear Father,
It was a short enjoyable day. I truly was relieved that everyone is in
high spirits.
It is natural that young men rise up during the nation's crisis.
As a true young Japanese man with restored determination, I certainly
will destroy the enemy.
I ask that you be strong as a respected leader on the home front.
Please raise Shinji to be full of vigor.
Since it seems Mother is faint of heart, please treat her gently. This is
my request. Well then, I ask that you work hard on the home front.
Sōichi
He wrote the following letter to his mother:
Dear Mother,
On the way I got off the train one time at Yokohama when an air raid
emergency was announced, but please rest assured since I returned to base
safely without any harm.
This time was a short break, but I truly was relieved by seeing the
cheerful faces of all of you.
In the train car I looked at the things that I received from you.
I truly thank you for thinking about such a person as me who lacks filial
piety. Even though I die in obscurity, I will protect you forever. Even
though something should happen to me, please be smiling without cutting your
hair. It is a pity for Shōko and my younger brothers and sisters [1].
Shinji is still there. Please make your spirit stronger and stronger, and
live without worries. I think that it is best that you arrange quickly for
Shōko to have a good husband.
My request for you is that I hope that you will live cheerfully and
free of cares.
On another topic, the bentō box lunch was very delicious, and I
thought that it would have been good if you had made even more.
Sōichi
The letters do not include a date. Based on this and the two letters' contents
(e.g., no mention of kaiten mission), it appears that Mizuchi did not consider
these to be his last letters before his death.
Letters translated by Bill Gordon
June 2018
The letters come from Mediasion (2006, 97). The biographical information in the first paragraph comes from
Konada and Kataoka (2006, 272-5, 374-5) and Mediasion (2006, 62-4, 85, 97).
Note
1. The number of brothers and sisters is not
specified in the letter. He may have had one or more brothers and one or more
sisters.
Photo taken at time of sortie of submarine I-165.
Sōichi Mizuchi is on front row second from right.
Sources Cited
Konada, Toshiharu, and Noriaki Kataoka. 2006. Tokkō
kaiten sen: Kaiten tokkōtai taichō no kaisō (Special attack kaiten
battles: Kaiten special attack corps leader's reminiscences). Tōkyō:
Kōjinsha.
The Mediasion Co. 2006. Ningen gyorai kaiten (Kaiten
human torpedo). Hiroshima: The Mediasion Co.
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