A Real Officer and a Movie Part IV - The Admiral

American Mishima has been proud to continue this series based on the Military Channel's An Officer and a Movie to bring you the films and profiles of Real Japanese Officers and the Movies that featured them. In continuation with this series we are happy to present to you what we believe is the most important film that has ever come out of Japan – the Big Budget 2011 Toei Company's “The Admiral” - A film that not only tells the untold truth behind the Pacific War but of the man who opposed it who was ultimately forced to conduct it with absolutely no hope of winning.

In America, the great Pacific War of WWII is simply summed up with 'The Japs bombed Pearl Harbor then we bombed Hiroshima – enough said.” This pervasive attitude is not only an oversimplification but demonstrates a total ignorance of what took place during this war and how little Americans know of the Japanese who our country was fighting or why this war even took place in the first place. With the brief notable exception of 2001 Michael Bay film Pearl Harbor no such film has ever tried to adequately explain why Japan went to war with the United States or who fought on Japan's side. 2011's Toei Company The Admiral does just that.

So who is this enigmatic Admiral? Yamamoto Isoroku! When one thinks of Admiral Yamamoto, the best image that comes to mind comes from the final scene in 1971's Tora Tora Tora where Yamamoto played by Sō Yamamura declares “We have only wakened a sleeping giant.” For most that is their only impression of this great man. But who was he really? Yamamoto Isoroku was born of Samurai lineage in 1884 in Nagaoka, a village that fought for the Shogunate during the Boshin War. He was a graduate of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1904 and would go on to serve aboard the cruiser Nisshin during the Japan-Russo War where he would lose his middle and index fingers on his left hand as the Nisshin hit the Russian battle line. After the war he returned to the Naval Staff College in 1914 and made Lieutenant Commander by 1916 about the time he met his wife Reiko Mihashi who would bear him two sons and two daughters. 

 

From almost the outset of the 1920's Yamamoto Isoroku had become a well known fixture in the Naval establishment who supported gunboat diplomacy through a strong Navy. This of course made him many enemies within the Army which in the film depicts many of the rivalries going back to unsettled grudges from the Boshin War. Unlike many of the wartime leaders, Yamamoto Isoroku had the fortune to study at Harvard (1919-1921) and have two postings as Naval Attache in Washington DC. He became very fluent in English and understood America well. He became a strong advocate for Naval Aviation for like his disgraced American contemporary Billy Mitchel believed the age of the Battleship was over. Being such a proponent made him the target of many assassination attempts which became public after he opposed Japan's proposed signing of the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. He believed this did not serve Japan's better interests and he was right. But we'll get into that later as we talk more about the movie.

You see, unlike his rivals in the Army who pushed for war with America, he opposed it. Yamamoto Isoroku understood the great industrial output America had compared to Japan's meager building capacity. With both demotion or assassination remaining a constant threat, he chose his words in opposition cautiously. “I would not dare invade America for there would be a gun behind every blade of grass,” reads one famous quote. Another quote: “I wonder if our politicians (who speak so lightly of a Japanese-American war) have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.” Such a war could only lead to catastrophe. Yet in the grim hopes of stalling for time there was a faint hope that if diplomacy failed one heavy blow to the US Navy could open a position in which to sue for peace. Once it started, he knew this would not be possible. While the press back in Japan touted the Pearl Harbor bombings as a great victory, Yamamoto Isoroku's pessimistic predictions of disaster echoed with the air raid sirens sounding Doolittle's Tokyo Raid. 

As seen here, this was the last image of the Admiral before his fateful flight. Yamamoto Isoroku had always hoped Japan could sue for peace something only he believed could do but would never live to see it as his plane was jumped by a flight of P-38 Lightnings who had been given his exact itinerary that was foolishly or deliberately transmitted by the Army in the open frequency announcing where he would be. Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku died April 18^th 1943. The exact details of his violent death was kept hidden from the public. He was given a state funeral the following month.

So onto the movie which starts with a young Isoroku watching his town of Nagaoka burn in flames he is told the story of his 71 year old grandfather who made his last stand drawing his sword against Satsuma during the Boshin War. From this point on the entire movie is told from the perspective of a Tokyo based reporter named Shindo Toshikazu (played by Tamaki Hiroshi) who is tasked to interview Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku (played by Yakusho Koji) under the watchful eye of his nationalistic boss Munakata Keikiyoshi (played by Kagawa Teruyuki) and cover Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku's career.

The Admiral is anything but what Shindo expected. He is openly opposed to a War with America and further believes Japan could not win. Munakata argues that Russia was also big and powerful yet lost to Japan. Of course the Admiral counters with "They were weak and the in the midst of Revolution. You could not easily sweep America aside. To wage such a war would mean total war will not end until one country is reduced to ashes." This of course enrages Munakata and storms out of the interview. But it is Shindo who keeps an open mind which Yamamoto Isoroku sees clearly. Such a complex man yet so unpopular with the masses all buying into the Army's propaganda. What people in America are unaware of is during the early Showa Period there were three Military Coup detat's in Japan. With the Army in control, the Navy was always under threat. Shindo realizes that the inner circles of power were made up of men from Satsuma & Choshu still engaged in never ending fighting with Nagaoka in the Boshin War. 

 

While the public is happy to have a law and order restored under Prime Minister Tojo who is looking to join hands with Adolf Hitler, Yamamoto Isoroku and much of the Naval Staff are opposed to the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy for they have read the uncensored version of Mein Kampf and unlike the public who adores Hitler are unaware of Chapter 13 where Hitler talks about using the Asiatic people to serve Germany. In one scene a fellow Officer who quotes Hitler's censored chapter to three young arrogant officers demanding to support the pact, Yamamoto asks "How do you like your friend Hitler now?"

All is not what it seems in Japan. The truth is hidden from the public in an effort to support the Army Controlled Military Government of Tojo and their alliance with Nazi Germany. In an effort to get Yamamoto Isoroku out of the way he is ordered out to sea. A safe demotion as they called it but ultimately it forces him to light the very match to the flames of war he so vigorously opposes. His faint hope is that if one knock out blow to the US Navy can be achieved then they could sue for peace. It was a hope he knew was a near impossibility. Yet under pressure, he was forced to take command of the fleet and carry out the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

 

At first the attack is viewed as a success. But with the reports of no aircraft carriers in port has the Admiral cautious. But when it is revealed that the Japanese Embassy bungled the delivery of the Declaration of War by announcing it thirty minutes late after the attack at Pearl Harbor commenced, Yamamoto concluded that Japan had now committed itself to a path of destruction with little hope of any chance to sue for peace given.

As history recorded, Admiral Yamamoto halted all further attacks on Pearl Harbor and returned his fleet to port. He did not see the attack as a victory but the embarkation of the a great unmitigated military disaster that could only end in Japan being reduced to ashes. Upon arrival, they were greeted as heroes but the celebration is short lived as the air raid sirens are heard over Tokyo as Jimmy Doolittle's raid bombs the capitol. 

In this film we are given insights into his relationship with his family and his brother. 

His own sister who still farmed in Nagaoka is greeted with praise for her family's honorable son. Such affection warms his stark cabin aboard the Battleship Nagato.

 

But you naval buffs won't be cut short there! Check out these dream shots of the carrier Agaki

 

Carrier Hiryu

 

Battleship Nagato

 

And my personal favorite the Battleship Yamato!

What is great is you see new re-imagined views of the Battleship Yamato not seen in the film Otoko Tachi no Yamato. But the War doesn't end at Pearl Harbor. We are next taken to the disaster known as The Battle of Midway.

Using the same planner of the Pearl Harbor attack Kuroshima Kameto (played by Shiina Kippei), Admiral Yamamoto approves the plans to for the assault on Midway Island in hopes of establishing a forward operating base to keep America away from Japan's Empire. He will do this by entrusting the fleet to Admiral Nagumo Chuichi (played by Nakahara Takeo).

But from the start, the operation goes against Japan. Nagumo's tactical blunders costs him all four aircraft carriers and the bulk of the combined fleet.

It is the pilots of the Hiryu who throw everything at the US Navy who score their only damage to US Carriers but it comes at a high cost in both well trained men and machinery.

In the end, it is Admiral Nagumo who comes to apologize to Admiral Yamamoto who asks him to join him for soup. To me this is a poignant scene where two men share a moment of humanity as one consoles another in their defeat. Nagumo is both ashamed of failure but more so humbled by Yamamoto Isoroku's understanding, Admiral Nagumo breaks down and weeps.

Meanwhile back in Tokyo, Shindo is told to report the war as he is told to omitting the truth that Japan is losing. Instead of using the word retreat, they are told to report that units are being transferred.

Shindo is bothered deeply by this prospect and thinks back to the Admiral's gloomy predictions of what war would bring to Japan. 

As the war wages on there are few hopes left that Admiral Yamamoto could sue for peace. While visiting front lines, he chose to visit the Army who foolishly or deliberately transmits his itinerary on open frequency that results in the most tragic consequences. 

 

On April 18th 1943, Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku's plane is jumped by a flight of American P-38's armed with 50 caliber machine guns and the knowledge of the Admiral's flight. The news of his death is a shock to the nation. A clear indication that Japan's hope for victory was now an impossibility with more and more men being called up to serve including Shindo.

We can not emphasize how important this film is. It is easy for any arm chair historians to say "well if he opposed the war so much why did he fight it?" There is no simple answer to such an simplified assessment of the war or the man that Yamamoto Isoroku was without being halfway knowledgeable of Japanese Culture and History dating back to the Arrival of the Commodore Perry's Black Ships in 1853. It is so sad that this film is not playing in major theaters in America for this film provides the ultimate history lesson as to why Japan ever fought the United States. 

We have read other blogs and Japanese papers who have printed many negative comments by people who are largely anti-Japanese and who have never seen the film. We won't allow negative comments here and luckily for us we have never had any. As pro-Japan we are here we do not make excuses for Japan's Wartime past but acknowledge it as we do those who fought it and those who opposed it. We wish that war never happened and had military leaders had listened to Admiral Yamamoto it is possible the war could have been avoided as it should have. None the less, there is no further debate. This film regardless of your feelings about the war tells what really happened on the other side and that of one remarkable man. If we were to recommend only one film to explain this war this would be it. But don't just take my word for it. See it for yourself!

To get your copy of the Admiral please see our man Eddie at Japanesesamuraidvd.com

サムライ映画, A Real Officer and a Movie Part III - Hanjiro

In continuing with our series inspired by The Military Channel's “An Officer and a Movie,” we would like to introduce to you another Real Officer and a Movie. While many of the great Samurai films we have featured take place during the Sengoku Jidai – The Warring States Period or the Boshin War, little has been made of The Satsuma Rebellion which was the basis for the Tom Cruise movie “The Last Samurai.” Some will say there is Hollywood and then there is History. When it comes to Japanese History, we at American Mishima could not argue more.So let us introduce you to our featured Officer Kirino Toshiaki aka Nakamura Hanjiro who is the subject of our feature 2010's Hanjiro starring Tataaki Enkoki as who recently appeared as Takeda in the Sakuradamon Incident but for Samurai fans best remembered as Kagetora in 1990's Samurai Epic Heaven & Earth. 

 

Kirino who was born in Kagoshima December 1838, was a low ranking Samurai from Satsuma whose lethal Ko-Ji-Gen-Ryu sword style distinguished him as one of the four Bakumatsu Shidai Hitokiri or man slayers who were considered to be undetectable during the Boshin War. His most famous action was against the retreating Shinsengumi during the Battle Toba-Fushimi in 1868. Near the end of the Boshin War he rose to become a senior commander of the Satsuma forces battling the remaining Tokugawa Loyalists and it is Kirino who accepted the Lord of Aizu Matsudaira Katamori's surrender at Wakamatsu Castle. At the conclusion of the Boshin War Kirino became an officer in the newly formed Japanese Imperial Army and rose to the rank of Brigadier General. But life wasn't so happy in the New Meiji Era for those who fought for Satsuma. The loss of stipends and Samurai Privilege led former Satsuma Commander and then current commander of the Army Saigo Takamori to resign his commission and return to Satsuma. Feeling this sense of dissatisfaction with the New Meiji Government and their policies governed by former Satsuma Samurai Okubo Toshimichi, Kirino joined with other officers to follow Saigo Takamori back to Satsuma where they would form private military academies teaching the Chinese Classics such as Confucius but also military hardware and tactics. This of course did not sit well with Okubo Toshimichi who dispatched government troops to Kagoshima which had all but declared itself a free state. From the outset, the valiant Satsuma Samurai fought with antiquated rifles and cannon against the better armed professional army of the New Meiji Government. Unlike in the last Samurai there were no Americans present. This was strictly a Japanese affair only with western uniforms and deadly Gatling Guns. On September 24^th, 1877 Kirino was killed along with Saigo Takamori in the last battle ending the Satsuma Rebellion. He was left with a wife Hisa who lived on well until the Taisho Era in 1920.

And now to 2010's Hanjiro. The film is set in the Satsuma Domain 1862 present day Kagoshima, Japan. A lone upstart sweet potato farmer named Nakamura Hanjiro (brilliantly played by Tataaki Enoki) seeks an audience with the Satsuma Domain military Commander Saigo Takamori (played by Tanaka Seiji) to present him with the gift of sweet potatoes. With Saigo seated, Nakamura becomes intimidated as Okubo Toshimichi joins Takamori to see his skills he had obviously came to demonstrate to curry favor. Before Saigo can say anything a subordinate laughs at the notion of sweet potatoes which not only embarrasses the gracious host but offends Saigo to force him to apologize to Nakamura pointing out that sweet potatoes are hard to grow so best show some appreciation for this humble gesture. Humble or not, Nakamura's ulterior motive was indeed to be given the opportunity to demonstrate his sword skills in hopes that he could be made a Samurai. Impressed by both his skill and utter audacity, Saigo grants his wish and sends him to Kyoto to join other Satsuma Samurai in their quest to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate. 

Nakamura quickly distinguishes himself with his lethal sword skills defeating scores of pro-Shogunate Shinsengumi forces and quickly rises to become a senior commander for the Satsuma forces ultimately rising to the rank of general in the new Japanese Imperial Army. But years following the end of the Boshin War that toppled the Tokugawa Shogunate, Saigo Takamori is unhappy with the policies of New Meiji Government and at odds with his fellow Satsuma Samurai turned politician friend Okubo Toshimichi. Saigo quietly resigns his post as military commander and returns to Satsuma. Philosophically united, Nakamura Hanjiro joins with other officers and resigns from the army to go join Saigo Takamori in Satsuma where they formed private military academies. The fever to rise up runs ramped among the young Satsuma Samurai who seize weapons and munitions from the New Meiji Government. Despite warnings from his friend, Kirino takes command as the passive Saigo Takamori gives little support to what becomes a doomed rebellion. This does not go unnoticed by Okubo Toshimichi who dispatches the army to restore order in what would become The Satsuma Rebellion. 

As any student of Japanese History knows, this does not go well for Satsuma. In each battle they are overwhelmed by government forces in their failed attempt to revolt against a government for the second time in the span of a decade. 

Directed by Igarashi Sho and also featuring J-pop idol Akira, 2010's Hanjiro is the first real film to cover the tragic events that led up to and ultimately became the Satsuma Rebellion at length since Kenji Misumi's 1974's remastered classic The Last Samurai which featured legendary actor Ken Ogata as Hanjiro the Slayer. This is the real story of Nakamura Hanjiro and the real Last Samurai of Japan. Please Enjoy!

 

 Please Enjoy!

To get your copy of Hanjiro or any other great Samurai Films with English Subtitles please visit our man Eddie at Japanese Samurai DVD

戦争映画 - A Real Officer and a Movie Part II

Earlier this month, we introduced you to a new feature inspired by the Military Channel we like to call "A Real Officer and a Movie" where we feature films depicting the heroic true stories of men who served the Empire of Japan during the Second World War. Earlier we introduced you to the story of Captain Oba Sakaein the 2010 Toho Studios War Epic 太平洋の奇跡−フォックスと呼ばれた男− (Translated The Miracle of the Pacific, The Man Called Fox) aka "Oba, The Last Samurai." Thanks again to our man Eddie over at Japanese Samurai DVD we would like to introduce you to another true story of one of Japan's Greatest Fighter Aces, a man who would later become enshrined at the Yasakuni Shrine as a God of War, the true story of Major General Katō Tateo in the newly digitally remastered 1969 Daiei Motion Picture Company film Rikugun Hayabusa Sentotaihe - aka "The Falcon Fighters."

But before we give you our take on the film let us introduce you to the man that in October 26, 1942 Time Magazine would call "Japan's Hero." Originally from Hokkaido, this son of an Army Sergeant who was killed in the Japan-Russo War would grow up to graduate in the 37th Class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1925 and would achieve the honorable duty of flag bearer for his Infantry Regiment. Within two years he would transfer to the Army's fledgling Air Corps and enroll at Tokorozawa Flying School. With great skill and natural aptitude for flying, he quickly rose through the ranks and became a flight instructor. By 1932 he had become the head flight instructor for the Akeno Flying School. This man would instruct a generation of new fighter pilots that would later see action over the skies of Manchuria and later in the War of the Pacific. During his time as commander of the 2nd Daitai, he claimed nine kills in China but would later disavow personal victories in favor of the collective achievements of his squadron earning both him and his men many unit citations. 

Katō is one of those few Japanese Officers during the Second Sino-Japanese War to leave the area of combat to visit Germany to inspect the German Luftwaffe's technical achievements in advanced fighter design. This combined with the attachments he had with his men to which he took personal responsibility as depicted in the film for him to push for the development of the new Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Peregrine Falcon) fighter which would play a crucial in the War in the Pacific. It is believed during the course of his career he had made over 60 fighter kills which can not be accurately confirmed. However, his actions helped his unit's over all score of 260 kills over combined Allied Aircraft which quickly saw Katō promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by 1942. But as with Japan, Katō's successes would come to a fiery end on May 22nd 1942. While on an attack on a British Bristol Bomber of Squadron 60, a turret gunner named Flight Sergeant 'Jock' McLuckie raked the exposed belly of Katō's Peregrine Falcon with a burst of machine gun fire as Katō had come in for a pass sending him to a fiery crash into the sea. Katō would be posthumously awarded the rank of Major General and enshrinement at the Yakasuni Shrine as a God of War.  His life would be the subject of a 1944 Propaganda film made during the War titled Katō Hayabusa Sento-Tai seen in the restored trailer below:

Two decades later in the post war era, Katō's story would be featured again in the 1969 full feature film titled "Rikugun Hayabusa Sentotaihe" - aka "The Falcon Fighters."

For the newly digitally remastered feature "The Falcon Fighters" we wrote the following synopsis: Set in the prewar days leading up to the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937, head flight instructor Lt. Katō Tateo of the Imperial Japanese Army-Air Corps trains new volunteers from the Amry's Infantry to become Japan's next generation of fighter pilots at the Tokorozawa Flying School. Flying Kawasaki Ko-4 biplane's, Lt. Katō will train both friend and future foe alike. 

But as war in China breaks out, Katō (played by Makoto Satô) now in command of the 5^th Rentai will take his untested men flying antiquated planes into aerial combat against the Chinese Air Force who is now headed by Lt. Cho (played by Jun Fujimaki) who Katō both earlier befriended and personally trained himself. While Katō's squadron ultimately achieves air superiority over the skies of Manchuria, it comes at a high price in men to which each loss carries a heavy burden that he alone must carry. 

As the war widens into the Second World War, Captain Katō must battle an ever advancing array of deadlier new enemies flying ever more modern fighter planes. In a time when “To Serve was to Die,” ( a literal death sentence in some sense to Western eyes) a stark contrast of Military thinking by American Generals such as George S. Patton who said "No one ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor bastard die for his country." While such mindset or language may have not existed among the Japanese, the conflict instilled by the Bushido code and notion to die for the Emperor as an achievement versus the realities in losses of well trained men weighed heavily on Katō. Katō would rise through the ranks and defy the military logic of the day of an indifferent Army military brass to push for the development of the new Nakajima Ki-43  Hayabusa or "Peregrine Falcon” - (the Army's answer to the Navy's famous Mitsubishi A6M Zero) in an effort to arm Japan's pilots with modern fighter planes that would give his men a fighting chance of survival in the deadly aerial combat over the Pacific. 

Originally titled “Rikugun Hayabusa Sentotai,” written by Katsuya Susaki and directed by Mitsuo Murayama 1969 Daiei Motion Picture Company. Made with the technology available in the late 1960's, this rare classic WWII film "The Falcon Fighters" is the real life true story of Katō Tateo one of Japan's most legendary fighter aces of all time. Unfortunately we could not find a trailer available to show you but in lieu of such we have uploaded the film's opening so you may get a feel for this film.

Please bear in mind, as "American-jin" we are not trying to glorify war or make any political statements or arguments about Japan's wartime past. It is often said there are both heroes and villains on both sides to any conflict. What we at American Mishima believe is in sharing the stories not so well known on this side of the Pacific and worthy of retelling. We hope that the story of Katō Tateo gets retold yet again in a modern motion picture with today's talent and technology. Such men are a rare breed not to be forgotten. Their shared sacrifices made possible the world we have today. Therefore, we offer a salute and shared admiration for Major General Katō Tateo and the men on all sides who fought bravely for their countries in what was the tragedy that was the Second World War.

戦争映画 - A Real Officer and a Movie of the Man Called Fox

Earlier last November of 2011, we wrote you a brief introduction to the latest Toho Studios War Epic 太平洋の奇跡−フォックスと呼ばれた男− (Translated The Miracle of the Pacific, The Man Called Fox) aka Oba The Last Samurai (See Oba Preview). Thanks to our man Eddie over at Samurai DVD we can now present you with a detailed description of the film and of the remarkable real life story behind the film.

The man the US Marines would call "Fox," Captain Oba Sakae was a school teacher who taught geography before becoming an officer in the Japanese Imperial Army. Assigned to the 18th Infantry, he was deployed at the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in Manchugo (Manchuria) in 1937. He had left for war with a wife named Mineko and an unborn son he would possibly never see. As the Japanese Empire began to collapse, the 18th Infantry was re-deployed from Manchugo to the Pacific when the ship he was aboard the Sakito-maru was torpedoed by the American Submarine USS. Trout. The ship sank with over half of the 18th Regiment. Captain Oba was among those lucky enough to have survived and reach the shores of Saipan. Having lost half his regiment, Captain Oba was placed in charge of a combat medical unit when 70,000 US Marines landed at Saipan battering the 30,000 Japanese defenders. Once again, Oba had managed to survive but his troubles were not over yet. As the situation on Saipan had deteriorated, the Japanese commanders were informed that the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy was destroyed and Saipan was to be abandoned. With no rescue in sight, their officers committed suicide and left the remaining junior officers to make one last Banzai charge insuring complete destruction of their forces. Over 4300 Japanese Soldiers died killing 2000 US Marines yet somehow Oba survived again. In July 9th, 1944. The USMC commander declared Saipan pacified. The only problem was someone forgot to tell Captain Oba.

Having survived the sinking of the Sakito-maru, the US Marine invasion, and final Banzai charge, Oba had found it was his responsibility to live and continue the fight. With 46 surviving men, he gathered the remaining 200+ Japanese Civilians still left on the island and moved deep into the jungles evading capture. This of course frustrated the American Commander who was bent on capturing the "Fox" who had been fighting a guerrilla styled hit and run campaign of resistance. In the end, Captain Oba held out for over 512 days after the last Banzai charge. He had refused to surrender until December of 1945 and only on the sole condition that he be ordered by the Imperial High Command to do so.  Frustrated, the Americans had to fly in former Saipan commander Major General Umahachi Amō to deliver the orders to surrender. Having recieved his final orders, Captain Oba complied and marched in regimental order with full military honors to present his sword & colors to Lt. Colonel Howard Kurgis.

Captain Oba would return home to Japan to see his son for the first time. His son was nine years old before he would meet his father. When you hear of present day war deployment stresses on families, one can not begin to imagine what these Japanese Soldiers and their families went through not seeing each other for years at a time. Captain Oba would go on to have a long successful career as a company spokesman for a department store and city council member before his passing in 1992. What is remarkable about this little known story is how this story came about. A former US Marine by the name of Don Jones who was once ambushed by Oba's men became fascinated with his story and tracked him down in post war Japan. With Oba's cooperation, Jones would go on to write his story and the two became life long friends. Even more remarkable was that Jones would later track down former Lt. Colonel Howard Kurgis and convinced him to give back the sword Oba had surrendered. The sword is now an Oba family heirloom. We are thankful to Don Jones for not only writing this remarkable true story but also Oba's second son Hisamitsu who discovered  over 1200 pages, letters, and postcards of correspondence. He was so moved by his fathers letters who sought out a publisher and produced the novel Miracle of the Pacific the Man called Fox to which made it possible for a full length feature film to come out of it in 2010.

While the sinking of the Sakito-Maru is not mentioned in the film Oba The Last Samurai, we join the film recreating the real life events on Saipan just before the final Banzai charge. Played by Yukata Takenouchi, we revisit the desperate days following the annihilation of the Japanese garrison at Saipan. This film also stars Mao Inoue in the prominent civilian role of camp medic. She is tasked with tending to both the sick & wounded on an island with no natural water source. Other Japanese actors recreate the hardships of the many civilians that his out with Oba's men and those sequestered in the American camps. Daniel Baldwin plays Saipan's first enigmatic gung-ho  Marine commander who sought to hunt and destroy the remaining Japanese on Saipan. Veteran actor Treat Williams would later play Kurgis the more mild mannered commander who replaces Baldwin.

Williams portrayal of Kurgis is done with a level of reason mostly due to the efforts of the Captain Lewis played by Sean McGowan. US Marine Captain Lewis is a man who spent two years in Japan prior to the war and is well versed if not sympathetic to Japanese Culture. He speaks fluent Japanese and is the only one who understands the Bushido mindset the Japanese operate under.
   

 

As a writer and aspiring novelist I enjoyed the addition of the Captain Lewis character. He provides insights into Japanese culture not only to his commanders but to the movie going audiences as well. His character also plays the good side of our US Servicemen. In war they say there is good and bad on both sides to any conflict. The Captain Lewis character does just that and in doing so he helps bridge the cultural divide between himself and Captain Oba whose motivations both baffle and frustrate the Marines. There are many human scenes that Yukata Takenouchi would play out. His portrayal of Captain Oba is most outstanding in it's realism and human dignity Takenouchi brings to the character. It is throughout the film in small gestures and selfless sacrifice that Oba comes through as a modern man free of the feudalistic thought that left no room for the living. Takenouchi brings this to life as one could imagine the real Oba Sakae did during thier 512 day  campaign of resistance and survival. As Japan comes to terms with it's war time past in the form of recent big budget movies, this is one film of not only one remarkable man but of two who saved lives in a time when the philosophy of war guaranteed no survival or consideration of those left living. It is one thing to take responsibility for failure by commuting hari-kiri but a larger and even greater task to show greater leadership in the face of certain defeat and continue living.

We at American Mishima admire Captain Oba and the efforts of those both real and fictional who helped bring this story to the world. 

 

We hope that in time, Oba and his 46 men will be remembered with such honor as another 47 Ronin are celebrated today. Think about it. 47 Japanese Soldiers outwitting over 47,000 US Marines for 512 days!

  

 But don't take my word for it. Please see this movie and enjoy.