The Iron and Blood Imperial Corps consisted of around 1,800 boys, many of them still in middle school, that were responsible for doing many of the dangerous works on the battle field, such as physically delivering orders through constant American bombardement. The Japanese army's tactic in delivering orders was something such as making three boys all carry the same message, in hopes that one will survive the battlefield and reach the recipient. It is said that half of the middle school boys assigned to the Iron and Blood Imperial Corps, lost their lives.
This page explores the story of Higa Shigetoshi and Miyahara Morihiko.
Shigetoshi, who had confidence for his good memory, was assigned to send a order to a location 1km away from his cave. Repeating the order and making his way about 30 to 40 meters, there were gunshots fired from above. With shells being fired around him, Shigetoshi would lay on the ground, and instantly get up and start running after the explosion, and lay on the ground again, before the next explosion. Running through the blast and debris, Shigetoshi forgot what the order was. "Imperial Corps, Higa, Private, I have come to deliver an order," Shigetoshi announced.
"What is it?"
"I forgot." Shigetoshi said. Everyone around him laughed, clapping their hands. Unable to do anything, Shigetoshi ran, another kilometer through bullets, back to his cave.
Within 5 minutes, Shigetoshi was told to go again. Right then, a shrapnel had made an explosion. Shigetoshi, drained of his physical strength, was unable to stand after he ducked on the ground. Catching the eye of a private first class, Shigetoshi was kicked in the flank. He got up and started walking.
"What is it?"
"I forgot." Shigetoshi said. Everyone around him laughed, clapping their hands. Unable to do anything, Shigetoshi ran, another kilometer through bullets, back to his cave.
Within 5 minutes, Shigetoshi was told to go again. Right then, a shrapnel had made an explosion. Shigetoshi, drained of his physical strength, was unable to stand after he ducked on the ground. Catching the eye of a private first class, Shigetoshi was kicked in the flank. He got up and started walking.
涙そうそう Nada Sou Sou
On June 19th, Shigetoshi and his group was told to "break through the enemy" and meet in the North. This meant that his group was being ordered to make a suicide attack. Splitting the group into two, Shigetoshi's group headed North, and the other headed South. Shigetoshi cried "nada-sousou," or with tears rolling down his cheeks. However, once he carried the hurriedly prepared explosive, he suddenly felt a surge of good sensations, and charged to the North.
Because Shigetoshi's group left at night, they did not encounter any tanks to make a suicide attack. The boys headed back to their cave. Although Shigetoshi's group lost none of their members, the group that headed South lost 9 out of 17 of their members.
Because Shigetoshi's group left at night, they did not encounter any tanks to make a suicide attack. The boys headed back to their cave. Although Shigetoshi's group lost none of their members, the group that headed South lost 9 out of 17 of their members.
"Father, Mother. To my parents who have raised me for 16 years, the time has come; to part. Please do not cry when you hear that I have died. As an only child, I am disappointed that I have died without returning all you have done for me. As of now, I am very thankful. I feel Mother and Father's grace. Lastly, when I die, I will also scatter like the country's flower. When you hear Shigetoshi has died, please smile."
- Higa Shigetoshi's will, written when he was just sixteen
- Higa Shigetoshi's will, written when he was just sixteen
Miyahira Morihiko had just joined middle school in 1943, with no specific future in mind other than becoming a soldier, as that is what what the kids were told to become. Although the war was taking place, his first year in middle school consisted of normal education, where he even learned English. He was a normal middle schooler. However, once Morihiko hit his second year in middle school, increasing amounts of soldiers were sent into Okinawa. With no place for the soldiers to stay, Morihiko’s school went out of session around July 1945, in order to prepare for war. The kids at the school helped digging caves, making roads, and even trenches for the army. Once November came, the students were released from their labor. School was back in session, but they weren’t going to receive normal education—they were about to be trained. Morihiko went to school to learn the basics of radio communications.
“we were made soldiers because we could be used to do any job.”
Morihiko's family had been living in a cave since March. On the 24 or 25th, Morihiko received a written order to join the army, brought by a student one term above him. Although Morhiko's mother persuaded him not to join because Morihiko was physically very small and only in middle school, Morihiko, who had already accepted his fate since the day he started to train for radio communications, comforted his mother by assuring her he will be alright. On March 28th the boy left his family and joined the army. Soon after, the middle schoolers were given the rank of a Private. The Iron and Blood Imperial Corps were bullied by many soldiers, due to their low rank. Morihiko reflects on a bitter rumor he had heard; “we were made soldiers because we could be used to do any job.” Through constant American bombardment, the boy's job was to be a messenger and physically deliver orders.
As the American invasion of Okinawa intensified, Morihiko heard tanks and gun shots in close proximity. He thought to himself, so I guess this is the end. Hearing the gun shots, the military headquarters were the first to retreat to the South. Morihiko and the Iron and Blood Imperial Corps were the last to retreat, along with the wounded soldiers that were left behind. During his retreat, Morihiko saw many corpses. The 14 year old boy looked at the dead Okinawan people with a feeling of numbness. He felt disconnected, as if he was looking at a whole different type of human beings.
As the American invasion of Okinawa intensified, Morihiko heard tanks and gun shots in close proximity. He thought to himself, so I guess this is the end. Hearing the gun shots, the military headquarters were the first to retreat to the South. Morihiko and the Iron and Blood Imperial Corps were the last to retreat, along with the wounded soldiers that were left behind. During his retreat, Morihiko saw many corpses. The 14 year old boy looked at the dead Okinawan people with a feeling of numbness. He felt disconnected, as if he was looking at a whole different type of human beings.
The Feeling Stuck with Morihiko Forever
In Mabuni, located at the very South of Okinawa, many people found caves on the surface of cliffs to hide in. Morihiko who was in one of the caves, witnessed an American soldier, half naked, attempting to force Japanese soldiers out of their cave. The soldier shot his automatic rifle, threw grenades, hung a rope from the cliff and tried to make a explosion precisely where the cave was located. Morihiko, feeling like his life was in danger than ever before, decided to get back onto land. Leaving the cave on a very dark night, Morihiko walked on the beach filled with corpses. The feeling of his feet stepping on the dead Okinawan people, stuck with Morihiko forever after the war.
Trapped, Shot and Killed, by Their Own People
Two months after the war ended, many people were still hiding in caves not aware or in denial of the fact that Japan had lost the war. In hopes to help these people still living in fear, there were a group of people that went around explaining Japan’s unconditional surrender. Two men in simple army attire approached Morihiko’s cave to do so. They explained that Japan had lost, and they would all be able to go home. However, the people hiding inside the cave, didn’t believe the men, but instead thought they were spies. To trap the two men, people in the cave got together to close one of its two entrances. With everyone in denial of believing these two men, the two men gave up and tried to leave. Sadly, the two men were trapped, shot and killed, by their own people.