Blossoms In The Wind: Human Legacies Of The Kamikaze by Sheftall M.G

Author:Sheftall, M.G. [Sheftall, M.G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M.G. Sheftall
Published: 2014-04-01T17:00:00+00:00

Looks like rainy season is upon us again.

It certainly sounds like you are training very hard. We were all shocked speechless to hear about Corporal Makiuchi’s death. He sounded like such a nice young man. But you can take comfort in knowing that he has now joined the gods protecting our country. He is an angel watching over the Seiki Unit.

Every morning since coming home from our last visit to your base, I have gone down to the river behind our house and ritually bathed before going to the local shrine to pray for the Seiki Unit’s success in battle. I pray that the gods give each one of you boys the chance to sink an enemy aircraft carrier. It will be a fine and glorious death.

Whenever I visit the shrine, though, I can’t help but remember how you also used to go there so faithfully as a boy, praying to be accepted into the Military Academy. When I think of that, and all of the other things you have done to make me so proud of you, hot tears never fail to come to my eyes.

It is hard to believe it has already been twenty-two years since we welcomed you into the world, Iwao. You have always been a source of pride for our family – always so diligent and hardworking, never accepting failure without a fight, studying from early morning until late at night everyday. Remember the alarm clock we bought for you to put on your desk when you were studying so hard to get into the Yōnen Gakkō? Maybe you didn’t know it, but I was awake every hour that you were, and many times when you weren’t. Sometimes I would find you fast asleep at your desk, and I would leave a little treat in your desk drawer for you to find when you woke up.

I could never get over how cheerful you seemed as you worked and studied, but never so serious that we couldn’t share a laugh or a light moment once in a while, like the time we stood in front of the window looking out at the rain and sang the “Rainy Day” nursery rhyme you used to like so much as a toddler.

Oh Iwao, what a joy you were for us. You can’t imagine how we felt when your letter arrived from the base telling us that that cute, precious little boy we once knew is now a tokkō flight leader. Our emotions were even more complex and intense when we got to meet you at the base – so sad on one hand that we will be losing our son, yet so proud of the fine young man you have become. There were so many things I wanted to say to you but didn’t because I know that what you are doing is for the good of the country. It took so much effort for me to smile in front of you and your men as I said “Go off and do your best.

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