Itamu Hito: An Oral History of Former Soldiers and Their Families

I originally had no interest in war at all, but before I knew it, I have been conducting interviews about battlefield experiences for over 20 years since 2002. It all started when I happened to meet a former pilot from the Battle of Ramu on a flight during my time as a cabin attendant for Japan Airlines.

After leaving Japan Airlines, I entered the Graduate School of Economics at the Juku and, after several decades, became a researcher of the Battle of Ramu. Initially, I majored in modern British history, but one day, a cardboard box arrived at my home from that former pilot. It contained a letter stating his wish for me to "convey the historical facts of the gruesome 'gyokusai' (honorable death) battle to future generations," along with items like his field diary. As a layperson, I was at a loss and consulted my supervisor, who encouraged me by saying, "Since you have this connection, Ms. Endo, you should be the one to research the Battle of Ramu."

The Battle of Ramu (June–September 1944), devised as the "last stronghold" in the defense of Burma, is less well-known than the famous "Operation Imphal (March–July 1944)," which is known as the worst operation in history. To clarify the reality of the Ramu battlefield—where approximately 1,300 Japanese troops faced off against about 40,000 Chinese troops on a mountain in China's Yunnan Province to cut off the Burma Road (the Allied supply route) and were eventually annihilated—I utilized primary sources from both the former Japanese military and the Allied side, as well as interviews with former soldiers. I eventually compiled this into the book "Inheriting the 'Battlefield Experience'" (Kobunken).

My latest book, "Itamu Hito," published nine years later, is a historical practice of oral history. In the process of researching the Battle of Ramu, I took the stance of a non-party "caretaker" rather than just a researcher, scooping up the various emotions of former soldiers and their families whom I met at veterans' associations and memorial services over many years. In fact, it also includes other theaters of war such as the Chinese front outside of Burma and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. A former company commander who frequently visits Yasukuni Shrine boldly declares at veterans' meetings, "We don't need the military or the Self-Defense Forces!" The unexpected narratives from former Keio student soldiers are truly poignant. There are also bereaved family members who still suffer mentally from the violence (verbal and physical) they received from their fathers. I listened to the silences and continued to listen intently by their side without denying narratives filled with lies or contradictions. What were the former soldiers thinking as they lived through the post-war era? The thoughts of the former soldiers and families (bereaved) who gather at veterans' associations and memorial services are not monolithic. War is not a thing of the past. You will realize that we are living in an "unending war."

Itamu Hito: An Oral History of Former Soldiers and Their Families

Miyuki Endo

Ikinobiru Books

248 pages, 2,530 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are those at the time of publication.