God's Samurai by Katherine V. Dillon

Author:Katherine V. Dillon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc.
Published: 1989-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

22 “Sad and Demoralizing”

FOR JAPANESE ex-officers it was a time of trial and tribulation. Defeat and unconditional surrender came as traumatic shocks. A sense of individual responsibility gnawed at many. Moreover, their personal dislocation was abrupt and complete. Before and during the war, their lives had been mapped out for them—a routine of hard work, strict discipline, and serious responsibility, but also security, dedication, and companionship. Now events turned them loose. The economy was broken. They had neither jobs nor prospects. Small wonder many resorted to irrational activity, things they would never consider under normal circumstances, from black-marketing to murder.1

Some followed the Pied Piper of Moscow. Fuchida heard Japanese communist agitators for the first time in late September or early October, while passing Hibiya Park in Tokyo. They screamed that the war had never touched Hirohito, yet Japanese died for him. “Down with the emperor!” they yelled.2

Early in the occupation, MacArthur emptied Japan’s jails of political prisoners. Many had been imprisoned for speaking out against the government’s expansionist policy, in the belief that along that path lay ruin. But many others were active communists. As soon as the prison gates swung open, swarms descended on the palace to demonstrate. Among other things, they demanded to know who fed the emperor, when the whole country was poverty-stricken and food scarce. Fuchida had no use for the Soviet Union after its belated entry into the Pacific conflict. To hear His Imperial Majesty insulted convinced him that the homegrown communists deserved the same contempt as their Russian masters.3

A month or so after the surrender ceremonies, Genda came to Tokyo to discuss with Fuchida the matter of the imperial family’s safety. He had organized a number of officers to protect the imperial family with their lives. “We want to protect the entire imperial family if possible,” he explained, “but if not we should at least protect Princess Suganomiya. She’s only three years old, and we could hide her for ten or even fifteen years until the danger is over. Then we’ll bring her out of hiding and restore the royal blood line.”

“I don’t believe the family’s in any danger,” Fuchida replied. “But it’s a good idea to have your organization around in case we ever need it.”

Then Genda showed Fuchida the membership list, which became known as Genda Kikan (Genda’s Organization). Fuchida didn’t add his name, but he assured his friend of support if the need arose.4

Shortly before this encounter, Fuchida received orders to report to Kure Hospital for examination in connection with his experience at Hiroshima. At least fifty officers in the hospital were suffering from radiation. Most of them had investigated the disaster. Three of the patients had been in Hiroshima when the bomb exploded, the two partially protected by their beds in the Yamato hotel, and Lieutenant Hashimoto. The latter recounted to Fuchida his experience on that ghastly morning.

All three expected to die soon. Everyone knew they were doomed. “But it was a terrible thing,” recalled Fuchida, “to hear it from the lips of the victims.

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