The Yusakuni Shrine prints letters from the war dead sent before their deaths. Read this sad letter below. Think about how young men were taught in schools that service-to-the-death for the Emperor and his government would bring glory to Japan. They were merely string puppets in the hands of manipulative military generals and political leaders. They and their loved ones paid the ultimate price.
This is a letter written by a Maintenance Petty Officer, 2nd Class, Japanese Navy, to his younger sister. At age 24 he was killed in action on February 6, 1944 in the South Sea Islands.
Kikuchan, please forgive me for not writing to you for so long.
I am in increasingly good spirits and working for the sake of the nation. Are you well, Kikuchan?
And are you going to school every day?
How time passes so quickly. It is already two years since I departed.
During that time I am sure that you listened carefully to what your teachers and Father and Mother told you, become wonderful, and have grown much taller.
If it were possible, I would really like to see you.
It is now a busy time so you are probably babysitting after returning from school.
But you must not forget to study hard even when you are babysitting.
Kochan must also be well.
Please live happily together.
Well then, I'll write again sometime.
Tomio Manakata Mikoto
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