With sadness, we regret that inform you that Mr. Kaname Harada the world's oldest Japanese Naval Fighter Ace has passed away at the age of 99. He is best known in the west through his interviews with author Dan King who chronicled his wartime experiences in his book The Last Zero Fighter for whom King had named the book in his honor.
During WWII, Lt.J.G.(Lieutenant Junior Grade) Harada participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Wake Island, the Battle of Midway, Guadalcanal and many others. He is credited with 9 Kills and 10 shared aerial victories.
After the war, he founded an award winning pre-school in Nagano. In more recent times he had been an outspoken critic of the recent military buildup by the government of Shinzo Abe. But people who knew him best like Dan King would like us to remember Mr. Harada as a kind and gentle man whose wisdom was not lost on those who would listen to his tales of his tragic generation. Like many men who have seen the horrors of war, Harada suffered from PTSD and would speak of his nightmares. One could only imagine what survivors guilt he must have endured after the wars end. And like my father's Vietnam Generation, the surviving servicemen were blamed by the very people they fought to protect for the war itself. What indignity!
We are fortunate that Dan King (seen in the above photo with Harada) was able to tell his story to dispel such myths of Japanese Servicemen chanting nationalistic slogans in their final moments were not true. More to the contrary their last words were often for their wives and mothers like anyone else at death's door. Harada had long painfully carried the memory of the dead. Now he has left this earth to rejoin his Squadron in heaven. May he find the peace his generation was tragically denied. And further that his story, spirit, and wish for lasting peace and harmony live on for generations to come!
In an era where many new big budget war films have been produced in Japan, none other has hit home so personally than Japan's latest entry えいえん の ゼロ - THE ETERNAL ZERO. Over the last ten years we have seen and reviewed such notable films as Otoko Tachi no Yamato, Ore Kimi, Oba - The Last Samurai, and the Isoroku Yamamoto movie The Admiral. Critics have long claimed these films are revisionist and lack responsibility for Japan's wartime atrocities. I could not disagree more. Japan's war while marred with notable war crimes such as the Rape of Nanking, Bataan Death March and so forth often overshadows the stories of bravery and unheard stories of survival against the overwhelming might of the United States. As often said, there are heroes and villains found on every side in every war. Japan's fighting men of that era were no exception and we will make no apologies for people we can not speak for. Thus we leave this to director Takashi Yamazaki to offer us a glimpse into the life Japan's Naval aviators in his new big budget film THE ETERNAL ZERO.
As many of our readers may or may not know, this author's father had passed away from the effects of Agent Orange he was exposed to during his tour in Vietnam. Paralleling our own personal experience of seeking out the truth as to what happened during the war, we find our young protagonist Kentaro Saeki (played by Haruma Miura) embarking on a journey for the truth. This all comes about after the funeral of his grandmother Matsuno (played by Mao Inoue - from Oba-The Last Samurai) when it is revealed that his grieving grandfather Kenichiro (played by Isao Natsuyagi) was not his real grandfather this whole time. To Kentaro's shock, he and his sister Keiko Saeki (played by Kazue Fukishi) discover their Oba-chan Matsuno was married before to another man named Kyuzo Miyabe (played by Junichi Okada) who volunteered to join the Kamikaze. Knowing nothing of their real grandfather, the two Saeki siblings seek out across the countryside to interview former Zero pilots to learn what kind of man their grandfather Miyabe was and why he joined the Kamikaze.
To Kentaro's shock, he is either turned away or met with utter contempt for Miyabe who was accused of being a coward who would fly away from every battle. This was not what Kentaro expected to hear and it troubles him even more to understand that if Miyabe was such a coward, how could he have volunteered for a suicide mission? The answers would come when he meets former Zero Pilot Isaki who speaks from his hospital bed as he battles terminal cancer. Isaki (played by Isao Hashizume) dismisses the notion of cowardice and reveals Miyabe's true character noting an incident at Rabaul that earned Isaki's respect.
Well after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the disaster at Midway, Miyabe was assigned to be the flight leader at Rabaul. When tasked to go on a revenge mission over Guadalcanal,Miyabe concludes that the distance is too far and would leave them only less than ten minutes flying time over the target. For this reason, Miyabe objects to the mission and is punched out by his superior officer in front of all the men. Having no choice, Miyabe leads his squadron on the futile mission.
Upon the return from Guadalcanal, one of Miyabe's pilots is critically wounded and low on fuel. With Rabaul within sight, the wounded pilot's engine sputters out forcing him to ditch in the sea. Miyabe could do nothing but circle around before he too was out of fuel and forced to land. The Air Sea Rescue planes could not find the downed pilot. They report to Miyabe a scene of sharks circling a pool of blood in the pilots last known position. To the squadron's shock, the downed pilot was declared a disgrace and a coward by the commanding officer. Miyabe verbally defends his pilot's courage and reputation leading to Miyabe being beaten to a pulp in front of his own squadron by his commander for defending his pilot's legacy. For Isaki, Miyabe was no coward. He had learned of Miyabe's wife and newborn child that was his inspiration to live. This of course countermanded the mindset of the Japanese Military of the time where their mandate was to die for the Emperor with no hope of ever returning home. As anyone today knows, this is no way to fight a war but this is what Miyabe was faced with. Isaki decides from that moment that he would do everything in his power to protect Miyabe. Weeks later, he would get his chance.
In an air battle over the Solomon Islands, Miyabe's squadron is jumped by American fighter planes. Miyabe finds himself in trouble with a deadly P-51 Mustang on his tail firing 50 caliber rounds at him. Miyabe's piloting skills keeps him in the air but as the P-51 lines up for the kill, young Isaki dived in a rams the American plane sparing Miyabe's life. This act of insanity nearly kills Isaki. But it also demonstrates an act of loyalty not lost on Miyabe. As Isaki is sent home to recover from his injuries, Miyabe never forgets his sacrifice.
As the war becomes more desperate for Japan, the Kamikaze are formed. Miyabe is sent home to train the next batch of pilots. Unbeknownst to most of them, they will be ordered to go on suicide missions. This news sends Miyabe in complete anguish over his young pilots who in his best efforts tries to protect by issuing failing grades to his best students who are eager to join the fight to save Japan from defeat. Many of his students do not understand what Miyabe's intentions are and accuse him of cowardice.
Isaki who is then reunited with his former squadron leader finds Miyabe a broken man who mourns for his young pilots. It is here that Miyabe meets another young pilot to whom he will entrust his will to live on for Japan's future. As more of Miyabe's pilots are sent to their deaths on Kamikaze missions, Miyabe himself is ordered to lead the protective fighters who are assigned to provide fighter cover so the Kamikaze can reach the American Carriers. At the last minute, Miyabe asks to trade planes with a young Kamikaze pilot named Kenichiro. Shortly after the planes take off, Kenichiro's plane develops engine trouble with oil spattering the canopy thus preventing the young pilot from carrying out his mission. He quickly realizes that Miyabe had done this on purpose to spare his young students life.
In the climax of the film, Miyabe does the unthinkable and flies through a hail of lead to attack an American Aircraft Carrier. Out of his many planes, Miyabe is the only plane that day who will tragically get through. Meanwhile back at base, Kenichiro discovers a note left behind along with a photo of his wife and child reading "That if you survive the war please take care of my wife and child." It is through this process that Kentaro discovers the truth. The man who was told was his grandfather was the same Kenichiro whom Miyabe sacrificed his life to protect so he could fulfill a promise to his wife Matsuno to return to her in any form even if he is reincarnated to care for her and their child. I could tell you more but the film just gets emotionally heavier.
Having learned the truth from their adoptive grandfather, Kentaro returns to interview the Zero pilots to discover their true feelings about Miyabe they unwilling to earlier reveal with many of them acknowledging that they owe their lives to Miyabe. What he learns will change his perception of the war and that of his family. By films end, Kentaro is transformed when he comes face to face with his real grandfather as he makes one final flyby in his A6M Zero on his way to his final mission. All we can say is that we were emotionally blown away by this scene.
As we stated in the beginning of this review. we draw personal parallels to Kentaro's story as we have sought to understand our own family story that took place in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It is through the recollections of those veterans who survived these wars that the human element so often removed from history books is found. This film contains many spectacular flying sequences and CGI effects so well done, you almost would think such scenes were done with real carriers and warplanes. Much like The Admiral, we are shown the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway from a different perspective. The two films compliment each other as they both tell the stories of Imperial Japan's Naval Aviators. Where we go from here is to the stories of the Kamikaze. Where Ore Kimi captured the mental anguish of the veteran pilots assigned to such suicide missions, The ETERNAL ZERO takes this one step further and confronts the horribly incorrect modern day notion that Kamikaze and modern day suicide bombers are the same. They are not. If you read Dan King's book The Last Zero Fighter, you will discover such comparisons by both Americans and today's Japanese youth are complete ばか (bullshit)! They were Japan's best and brightest tasked to do a horrible thing that many knew could stop Japan's defeat. It's an impossible thing to imagine, but the men of that generation endured it. A trip to the Chiran Kamikaze Museum will make you about it.
We at American Mishima hope that you see this film and walk away with the understand of what Japanese pilots faced and what hardship bestowed upon them in the days and months following Japan's catastrophic defeat in their ill fated war against America in the Pacific. We don't see this as "Revisionist" nor do we see this as a film absent of Japan's fault for starting the war. Miyabe openly considers Pearl Harbor a failure for Japan that will guarantee their defeat. Perhaps, there were men like Miyabe who thought on modern terms that were unpopular and seen as criminally defeatist at the time. It is entirely possible. While panned back in Japan as a "Pack of Lies," this fictional work depicts the war as a tragedy. It does not by any means glorify war. Of course, there will be those who don't get it and some who do most notably current Japan PM Shinzo Abe and Yoko Ono who both expressed how they were emotionally moved. We say to you, see it for yourself and be at peace.
Seen here is The Last Zero Fighter Author Daniel King with Japanese & American Veterans of the Battle of Midway Atoll that took place June 5th, 1942. This battle ended in a major defeat for the Empire of Japan with the loss of four carriers in it's attempt to seize the strategic atoll. This marked the turning point in the Pacific War and the beginning of the end for the Imperial Japanese Navy. American Mishima is happy to see that time has indeed healed old wounds where these old warriors can come together in peace.
Baseball! Certainly not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of WWII. But on that one Saturday morning of April 18th 1942, the war would take a backseat to the biggest day in Japanese Baseball for both players and fans alike for the entire year. Nagoya would be playing a double header against their Osaka Rivals at Nagoya Stadium while over at the Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo, the Tokyo Kyojin (Yomuri Giants) would play against the Blackhawks. This was also the day that would have the Japanese nation glued to their radios to hear the Japanese High School World Series taking place at Koshien near Kobe. It didn't matter that there was a war going on, this was the national obsession and indeed it was an exciting day for Baseball. But for Zero Pilot Isamu Miyazaki of the Imperial Japanese Navy assigned to fly the CAP (Combat Air Patrol) over the skies of Tokyo that morning, the day’s scores and highlights would have to wait. His duties were to protect the skies over Tokyo. But just before 9:30 AM when he was about to take off to his four hour CAP, Isamu Miyazaki and his two wingmen received an unusual set of orders that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
In a little known incident that was nearly lost to history, something stranger than fiction took place that can now be revealed here. As history recalls on April 18th 1942 was the same day that America struck back at the Japanese Home Islands with the famous Doolittle Raid. Unbeknownst to the American bomber pilots who were expecting fierce resistance, the Imperial Japanese Army had informed the Navy that morning their intention to fly new experimental twin engine bombers that day. Miyazaki’s orders were to stay clear of the Army bombers and not approach them. The bombers were to be conducting radar and fuel tests. Miyazaki was further asked to “give them a wide berth.” But earlier that morning around 7:30 am, the Japanese picket boat Nittō Maru had spotted the USS Hornet and Task Force 18 some 650 nautical miles (1200 km) out from Japan. She had radioed in the American’s position before being sunk by the USS Nashville. After informing the Emperor of the impending attack, the Army assumed the Hornet would not launch its attack on the main islands until mid-day thus allowing two more hours to mount a proper defense. But as fate would have it or as Americans could call “a case of dumb luck”, no one in the Army bothered to tell the Navy or the men flying the CAP about the impending raid. As a result, Miyazaki and his men observed the twin engine bombers fly right past them as expected without firing a shot. But when Miyazaki noticed the brown paint and big white stars painted on the planes, he began to second guess his strange orders. Suddenly, a maelstrom of clutter jammed the radio frequency. It seemed everyone got on the radio at the same time making a report impossible thus forcing his CAP to land to make a report before returning to the air to give chase to the American B-25’s who were by then long gone. The rest you could say was history.
This is just one of the many and often never before heard exciting true stories featured in The Last Zero Fighter. Written by Daniel King, - An author who earned a degree in Japanese Language and later worked in Japan for the Toyota Motor Corporation. This book compiles the firsthand accounts from some of Japan’s top surviving Naval Aviators of the Pacific War who were interviewed by the author in their homes in their native language in some cases just weeks before they passed away. Discover the early days of Japanese Naval Aviation through the experiences of the young teenage cadets of the Yokaren Preparatory flight training program and the long road to the cockpit. Learn about the early War in China and what really happened in Nanking from the eyes of the men who were really there. You’ll also learn about the incident that nearly started a war with the United States in 1937. Learn firsthand from Kaname Harada what it was like launching off the Imperial Japanese Aircraft Carrier Soryu leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Learn about the forgotten attacks by the Japanese fleet on British forces in Sri Lanka. Oh wait! You didn’t know the same fleet that attacked Pear Harbor also assaulted the British in Sri Lanka just weeks later? Well neither did we! But wait! There’s more!
From the heroics of combat to the tragic losses at Midway, author Dan King (Seen above with Zero Pilot Kaname Harada) will share with you from the men who flew those nimble A6M Zero fighters what it was like to go toe to toe with the deadly F4F Wildcats and to ditch your plane in the middle of shark infested waters with little hope of rescue. Learn the tactics of the air combat in the hands of the nimble A6M Zero. From early bi-plane trainers to the German designed rocket craft, you get a sense of it all including one hilarious yet true scuffle aboard the cockpit of a doomed bomber between the pilot and his Zero Pilot passenger for the controls of the plane while it was being attacked by an American fighter. Learn the truth about the Kamikaze in a way that debunks the notions of crazed men hell bent on suicide that will make you rethink everything you have learned about the tragic pilots who were asked to die for those they loved.
This is such a rare collection of interviews now available to the western world that any WWII buff would be remiss to pass on. These stories will take you through the whole range of emotions from the incredible to the utterly heartbreaking moments of loss and those lost to the tragedy that is war. You will not find this stuff in history books in this country or in Japan! Author Daniel King spent many years interviewing these pilots. His work is a treasure trove of information that has won praise from high ranking military historians and wartime aviation enthusiasts alike. If you would like a read that will give you an exciting in depth perspective of the Japanese Naval aviators view of the war, then we highly recommend The Last Zero Fighter. This book will truly exemplify the old adage of what you think you knew only proved how much you didn’t know.
“American Mishima” is the work of Louis Rosas, the son of Mexican Immigrants, whose father served in Vietnam for the US Army and who grew up on glamorized war films and military aviation in the sleepy seaside plains of Oxnard, Calif. With an early fascination of the Second World War embedded in his young mind during the post-Vietnam era, it was his exposure to Akira Kurosawa's samurai epic Ran (Toho, 1985) that changed his views of war while creating a lasting impression of Japanese culture and history. Further inspired by the works of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima, Rosas would go on to study Japanese language and swordsmanship, which led him to the practice of Shingon Buddhism and Shinto. Rosas is also a former student of Shinkendo, the ideal and practice of the samurai code of Bushido in the modern world, which helped shape the creative force that is “American Mishima.”
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