Chiran - Kamikaze Museum
We visited a very fascinating, albeit disturbing, town today. It's a town called Chiran, and it's near the southern tip of Kyushu, which is Japan's most southern main island.
Chiran is interesting because it was the most active airbase of Kamikaze pilots during World War II (specifically, the Battle of Okinawa, to which Chiran was the closest Japanese-held airfield).
A museum has been erected to share the story of the 1000+ kamikaze pilots. It was an odd sensation to stand here as Americans, but much to our surprise, we found the local Japanese very warm and friendly. It's a wonder how things have changed in 60 years.
(Unfortunately, the museum didn't allow cameras past the front door)
The museum was quite interesting. It had a large collection of personal memoirs and letters from the pilots. These are some interesting highlights (Note: I find this stuff interesting because I enjoy Japanese History, but I think most people will find it a bit disturbing):
(1) Most of the pilots were young, between 17-22, although we saw records as old as 32.(2) Most of the pilots (~90%) died en route to battle. It's unclear if it was due to mechanical failure or actual gunfire from ships.(3) The Kamikaze program wasn't limited to pilots ramming their planes into ships. Kamikaze were also ordered to collide with B-52s.(4) Not all of the pilots were Japanese. ~10 pilots were from Korea (which Japan occupied during the war). Even more interesting was the American-citizen-turned-kamikaze-pilot. This American (I forgot his name), was of Japanese descent, born in Hawaii. When war broke out, he and one of his brothers came to fight for Japan. Ever more interesting is the other two brothers enlisted in the United States Military and fought in the European War.
(1) Most of the pilots were young, between 17-22, although we saw records as old as 32.(2) Most of the pilots (~90%) died en route to battle. It's unclear if it was due to mechanical failure or actual gunfire from ships.(3) The Kamikaze program wasn't limited to pilots ramming their planes into ships. Kamikaze were also ordered to collide with B-52s.(4) Not all of the pilots were Japanese. ~10 pilots were from Korea (which Japan occupied during the war). Even more interesting was the American-citizen-turned-kamikaze-pilot. This American (I forgot his name), was of Japanese descent, born in Hawaii. When war broke out, he and one of his brothers came to fight for Japan. Ever more interesting is the other two brothers enlisted in the United States Military and fought in the European War.
The town is surrounded with these lanterns. One for each of the 1000+ pilots who died.
A replica of a 'Zero fighter'
Modern Chiran is also covered with many of these statues, the Goddess of Peace.
