Memoirs of a Kamikaze: A World War II Pilot's Inspiring Story of Survival, Honor and Reconciliation

by Kazuo Odachi, Shigeru Ota, Hiroyoshi Nishijima

An incredible, untold story of survival and acceptance that sheds light on one of the darkest chapters in Japanese history.

This book tells the story of Kazuo Odachi who—in 1943, when he was just 16 years-old—joined the Imperial Japanese Navy to become a pilot. A year later, he was unknowingly assigned to the Kamikaze Special Attack Corps—a group of airmen whose mission was to sacrifice their lives by crashing planes into enemy ships. Their callsign was "ten dead, zero alive."

By picking up Memoirs of a Kamikaze, readers will experience the hardships of fighter pilot training—dipping and diving and watching as other trainees crash into nearby mountainsides. They'll witness the psychological trauma of coming to terms with death before each mission, and breathe a sigh of relief with Odachi when his last mission is cut short by Japan's eventual surrender. They'll feel the anger at a government and society that swept so much of the sacrifice under the rug in its desperation to rebuild.

Odachi's innate "samurai spirit" carried him through childhood, WWII and his eventual life as a kendo instructor, police officer and detective. His attention to detail, unwavering self-discipline and impenetrably strong mind were often the difference between life and death. Odachi, who is now well into his nineties, kept his Kamikaze past a secret for most of his life. Seven decades later, he agreed to sit for nearly seventy hours of interviews with the authors of this book—who know Odachi personally. He felt it was his responsibility to finally reveal the truth about the Kamikaze pilots: that they were unsuspecting teenagers and young men asked to do the bidding of superior officers who were never held to account.

This book offers a new perspective on these infamous suicide pilots. It is not a chronicle of war, nor is it a collection of research papers compiled by scholars. It is a transcript of Odachi's words.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Japan, Biography, War, World War II, Memoir

224 pages, Hardcover

Published May 19, 2020

Reviews

[Chin Joo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book (163 pages) on the life of a Kamikaze pilot and I mean life as in his whole life. The book is therefore not purely about his days as a Kamikaze pilot in the Second World War. The book is divided roughly into two parts: the first half is on his experience in War and the second is about his life after the war, which is mostly about his days as a policeman and his passion for Kendo.

The intention of the authors is not write a book exploring the use of Kamikaze as a "special attack" force or to tell the history of those who were recruited into the force. Rather, they wanted to record the story of a surviving Kamikaze pilot who is in the twilight of his years in the hope of telling his story to let future generations understand the plight and the complex psyche of a Kamikaze pilot.

And complex they are.

Depending on which end you stand looking at them, one can either think of them as fanatics (for after all, who would volunteer for such missions knowing that there is zero chance of survival) or as more current Japanese view tries to paint them, teens who did not want to die but did not have a choice.

So what did an actual Kamikaze pilot say?

"None of us had the audacity to reject this 'volunteer proposal' even though we were told it was to be a 'personal decision.' " (pg. 55)

And yet a few pages on,

"They did it! I will too! Give me a carrier to smash into!" (pg. 58)

How does one reconcile these two sentiments coming from the same person?

He did give a glimpse into how they actually looked at it. He related the times when fellow pilots were chosen for missions for the following day they were sitting around trying to bid each other farewell. There was no exuberance one would expect from people eager to hit the enemy. Instead, the "chosen ones" were telling the rest what they have bequeathed, cigarettes in one case, some food in another. There was this air of resignation, those going on their missions trying to psyche themselves to die honourably, those staying behind wondering if they would be next.

Overall, this is not a bad book but it was not able to delve deeper into the Kamikaze part because it is after all, the story of one man. But this leaves the reader feeling unsatisfied. On top of this, there are also a few things that might seem trivial, but really need to be tightened up. If the authors refer to what is now East Malaysia and Kalimantan as Borneo, they should not refer to Malaya as Malaysia, which would not be in existence for another 20 years. Also for such a short book, there are quite a few editorial mistakes, hardly in keeping with the spirit of Kendo which was so much brandished around in the book

[Akshay Oommen (HB Book Club) · Rating 4 out of 5]

To not only survive through World War II and escape the ill fate of most pilots assigned to the Kamikaze Special Attack Corps - but to then go on to reclaim his life by pursuing his passions and living to a ripe age 96 (and still counting)? Simply incredible.

'Memoirs of a Kamikaze' by Kazuo Odachi, Shigeru Ota and Hiroyoshi Nishijima is a stunning tale of the ordeals of a Japanese pilot during World War II. Before this, I certainly viewed Kamikaze pilots through a veil of ignorance. I am sure most people would assume that the pilots who volunteered to fly their planes into enemy targets were inhuman and/or crazed fanatics - but the real details were unbeknown to me. These weren't deranged men who were ready to throw their lives away for a national cause - most of these pilots were just young teenagers who were forced to do this job or else, face serious repercussions.

What strikes me even harder is the lucidity of Odachi's stories from World War II - which almost made it seem like these tales happened just yesterday. The harrowing journey he was made to go through in the penultimate years of the war, as Japan was on the brink of defeat and the living conditions of its' soldiers were absolutely rotten, makes you feel a sense of appreciation for the post-war period that we currently reside in. Sometimes, we take for granted the luxurious and peaceful lives we get to enjoy now - without fulling comprehending how several decades ago, people our age and even younger were thrown into the heat of war to die.

It was heartwarming to see how Odachi was able to pursue his passion for Kendo after the war ended. His experiences as a police officer and a detective certainly helped lighten the grim tone of him recounting of the war in the first half of the book. To live a normal life after going through such a scarring time certainly cannot be easy - but Odachi appears to have done just that, and his tale is truly one that will inspire anyone who picks up his book.

3800 kamikaze pilots died during the war - and more than 7000 naval personnal lost their lives to kamikaze attacks. Seeing these numbers make you realize the staggering toll that these special attack units had not just on their enemies - but on Japan as well. It was interesting to read that Captain Motoharu Okamura - the man who allegedly created the idea of kamikaze - shot himself in the face shortly after the war as the guilt of being responsible for the deaths of so many young Japanese pilots weighed heavy on his heart.

In summation, this is a book that certainly added a new perspective to WWII for me. There is no doubt that just the thought of the day-to-day life of a kamikaze pilot - not knowing which day would be his last - leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. This book is valuable simply because within a decade or two, there will no longer be people living who experienced WWII first-hand - which makes accurately writing, capturing and assembling the stories of all the Odachis out there so very crucial.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give a book five stars and I have absolutely no reservations giving this one the full five stars. That said, this book is not for everyone, but if you have an interest in Japan, building character, police work, Kendo, airplanes, war or a life well-lived, then you should give this a go. The first part focuses on the life of a kamikaze pilot during the war. If you don't know much about these pilots, it may surprise you to know that most of them were teenagers. There is a lot to weigh there when you think of what kind of mindset they had and had to have.
Odachi survives the war as his ultimate kamikaze flight scheduled in August 1945 is called off. The next part of the book describes his life after the war, or more aptly, his career with the police. The last part of the book is devoted to his passion in life—Kendo.

This is a very readable book for a Japanologist, but also for others, I believe. It is a unique story that deserves to be known.

[Stefan Mitev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Едва на 16 години, Казуо Одачи става доброволец за камикадзе пилот. Участва в цели 7 самоубийствени мисии, като по някакво чудо оцелява и доживява края на военните действия.

Последната година на Втората световна война е интересен исторически период. В тихоокеанския театър САЩ е абсолютен хегемон на въздушното пространство. Бомбардировките на японски градове са ежедневие. Морската блокада води води до глад и лишения.

Първите самоубийствени атаки със самолети, носещи бомби, започват през октомври 1944 г. Японските лидери знаят, че войната е загубена, но искат да постигнат приемливо примирие чрез ужасяващи тактики за увеличаване на жертвите. Изведнъж десантът на японските острови става твърде неприемлива идея, която би довела до милион жертви според някои оценки. Пилотите камикадзе ("Божествен вятър") са имали конкретно зададени мишени - обикновено самолетоносачи или големи бойни кораби. Така чрез саможертва на един японец може да се отнемат животите на стотици, дори хиляди американци.

Казуо Одачи е разпределен да служи във Филипините и Тайван. Успява да се завърне от седем самоубийствени мисии, тъй като не открива подходящ кораб, в който да се взриви или е нападнат от противникови изстребители преди достигане на търсената цел. Разузнаването и използването на радар не са били силни страни на японците.

На 15 август 1945 император Хирохито обявява безусловната капитулация на страната, с което слага край на Втората световна война. Изявлението е предавано по радиото само минути преди началото на поредната камикадзе мисия. Животът на пилотите е спасен в последния момент преди излитане.

У нас много хора говорят за патриотизъм, бият се в гърдите колко обичат страната и изразяват своята готовност да се защитава родината. Но за нас масовата саможертвата на камикадзе пилотите изглежда немислима. Заслужава си да се замислим какво разбираме под дълг към родината и обществото.

[Kat V · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting look into a world we almost never think about. For a long time I believed that the kamikaze pilots had volunteered for the job and looked forward to their deaths, but this shows another side. It also shows this guy’s whole life and the impact it had, and not just the years he was a pilot. 3.8 stars

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story that follows one man's life being a kamikaze pilot for Japan during World War II. Kazuo Odachi was one of the few Japanese kamikaze pilots that made it back to Japan after Japan surrendered. This is his personal story of how he did it. The tradition of death instead of defeat, capture and shame was deeply entrenched in Japanese military culture; one of the primary values in the samurai life and the Bushido code was loyalty and honor until death. Toward the end of the war rather then be captured loyal Japanese pilots volunteered to be a kamikaze, crashing their planes in the name of emperor. Japanese fighting men did not surrender, even in the face of insuperable odds. The other enduring image of total sacrifice is that of the kamikaze pilot, ploughing his plane packed with high explosives into an enemy warship. Its hard to believe anyone doing that but it happened. Interesting read into the mindset of Japanese warrior and their philosophy of warfare.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and how Odachi told his story. I liked how he explained the three stages of his life and the honor he has for his fallen brothers. Odachi went from kamikaze pilot at a young age to Police officer and then worked for a insurance company as an investigator after he retired from the Police force. The story flowed well and i was never bored reading it. If your looking for a book just about the kamikaze this is not for you as Odachi talks about other aspects of his life.

[David Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the war from the perspective of a 17-year-old Japanese fighter pilot and kamikaze pilot. It’s notable because, firstly, he condemns Japan’s WWII military leaders for needlessly throwing away young lives, and secondly, because he provides new evidence of secret peace negotiations between Japan and Chiang Kai-shek’s Chinese forces during the late stages of the war. It's emotional, lucid, and, at just over 200 pages, a short but powerful read.

[Joe Rado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valuable insight into the Kamikaze, which as I now understand are widely misunderstood. English version translation is a little rough, with quite a few errors.

[Oscar Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, kind of lost me at the end.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much appreciate books that provide me with a new perspective – in this case on World War II. A few years ago I read another book written by a Japanese naval officer: “Midway: the Battle that Doomed Japan,” by Mitsuo Fuchida I was fascinated by becoming part of his perspective. “ Kamikaze” provides a very different account. It is based on an oral history done when Kazuo Odachi was older, many years after the war. Odachi was only 17 years old when he joined the Japanese air force and learned to fly fighter planes. He was transferred to various airfields in Japan, China and the Philippines and flew dangerous missions and was, with very little choice, made part of the Kamikaze unit. His story sounds like a 17 year old boy- nearly man - and made me ache for these young men who were ordered to give up their lives for their country. Like other books I have read that provide a totally different perspective, it made me realize how all of us on this planet are related and have the same human attributes, strengths and failings.

[Janita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye witness accounts are so valuable. When an eye witness account comes from a person who is recounting something from their youth, another time and place, the perspective is priceless. For this reason, I wanted to read this book. It is truly shocking to note how obscenely young kamikaze pilots were. I particularly enjoyed reading おだちさん recounting how he felt when the war was over, and his last flight was cancelled while on the runway. His fury at later realisations about how highly expendable the kamikaze were viewed by their superiors is so fascinating. It is a good thing that testimony like this is recorded before it is too late. In the absence of first-hand accounts, mythology takes over. Thank you to Tuttle publishing for by some coincidence, being the publisher of almost every book we have in our library connected with Japan.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching memoir by a humble man

I very much enjoyed this book. Although it is in many ways sad (a 17 year old boy having to face such fear and tragedy), it is also very uplifting as he carries on with his life after the war and continues to do so today at 93. Unfortunately, I doubt if many post baby boomers know or understand (or care) who a kamikaze was or its implications. A similar theme is "Listen to the Voices from the Sea" which tells the same type story but is much more disturbing.

[Christopher Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only came upon this book by accident whilst watching a video essay about Kamikaze pilots during the second world war. It was used as source material for the video, and was referenced frequently throughout. The gripping title alone was enough to get me interested in the story, and at the time I was in a bit of a frenzy of purchasing Japanese authored books (this can be seen in the chunk of Japanese books I reviews last year). Certain to say, I was amazed at the quality of this book, and the incredibly interesting story that it told.

The book was written by Kazuo Odachi, a now 96-year-old former Japanese fighter pilot who, after almost 70 years of silence on the matter, decided to tell his story in becoming a Kamikaze. The book details his childhood, and how growing up in a rural area of Japan meant that his main amusement was laying in tall grasses watching pilots train at the local aerodrome. At this age he would also discover the Japanese martial art of Keno, something which he talks about at great length in the latter half of the book, and clearly has had a huge impact of him. When the war began, he was still only a boy, and so he was only able to join up quite close to the end of the war. A very gifted young man, he was selected to become a fighter pilot, and would spend considerably time in the pacific engaged in various fighting missions.

Kazuo explains how, as the war began to turn against Japan, he – along with many of his friends – were forced to volunteer to become kamikaze pilots. He explains in painful detail the events which unfolded around them, and how they were powerless to decline the request to engage in suicide missions. Much mystery surrounds the motivations of Kamnikaze pilots, but Kazuo repeatedly states that no one actually wanted to be made to do it, but felt that it was the right course of action to preserve Japan and keep the country safe. He reflects on this a lot in the later half of this book, and states repeatedly that he lives his life to the fullest in honour of the men who gave their lives before him. Flying 8 unsuccessful Kamikaze missions (more common then you would think), Kazuo also goes over how lucky he feels to be alive and how easily it could have been him dead instead.

The second half of the book covers his life post-war, his time as a policeman and dealing with Tokyo’s criminal gangs. He also talks in great depth of his love of Kendo, and how he still continues to practice the martial art, even in his advanced old age.

I really enjoyed this book, it gave a very insightful view into a point in history which is cloaked in misinformation and ignorance of understanding. Kazuo eloquently and expertly paints a vivid picture of his experiences, and does not shy away from his more controversial opinions on the events that unfolded in his time before, during, and after the war.

I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Japan, the second world war, and especially anyone who wishes to know more about the motivations and feelings of the young boys sent off to die in Kamikaze missions. I would posit that it is also helpful in understanding the mindset of those people who commit contemporary suicide attacks today. An excellent read!

[Robert Alexander Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Powerful and Humane Glimpse into History

Memoirs of a Kamikaze is an extraordinary and deeply human account of Japan’s wartime experience. I was familiar with the idea of the kamikaze, but this book revealed so much more about how pilots were chosen, what they endured in training, and what they faced in the field in places like the Philippines and Taiwan. Kazuo Odachi’s story offers a rare, firsthand perspective that captures both the discipline and the desperation of that period.

What makes this book remarkable is Odachi’s voice. He writes with humility and reflection, giving readers a sense of the psychological and emotional weight of his experience. His later life, particularly his decision to serve as a police officer, shows how he transformed his past into a life devoted to helping others.

The book is both historically fascinating and deeply moving. It shows the complexity of duty, survival, and redemption in a time of immense turmoil.

Memoirs of a Kamikaze is insightful, compassionate, and unforgettable. It deserves full recognition for shedding light on a side of history that is often simplified but rarely understood with such depth and humanity.

[Kevin]

Some Takeaways:

- The Zero was designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industry and Nakajima Aircraft Company as a carrier-based fighter for the Navy. It debuted in 1940. According to the “Imperial Calendar” in use in Japan at the time, this was the 2,600th year of the founding of Japan, so the Zero was named after the last numeral of this year.

- From the time I entered the police force, I never told anybody about my Kamikaze past. I mentioned that I was in the Naval Air Service when I made my application to the police, but never alluded to the Special Attack Corps at all. Some of my close acquaintances only found out 30 years after we first met. Telling people about the war years would achieve nothing. If anything, I sensed that had people known, their estimation of me would have been quite negative. Soldiers were applauded and respected during the war, but public opinion shifted drastically once Japan was defeated. Military veterans were looked down upon coldly. It was wise for former Kamikaze pilots to be discreet. Although few in number, we were still perceived as being inordinately dangerous.

- Kamikaze Special Suicide Attack missions took various forms. Zeros and other kinds of craft were sacrificed by both the Navy and Army. For example, small manned rockets called “Ouka” were attached to the undercarriage of bombers which flew them towards a target ship. The “Kaiten” was a manned torpedo fired from a mother ship on a oneway trajectory into enemy shipping. The Navy already started developing various weapons for suicide missions before the commencement of Zero Kamikaze attacks. Among them, Ouka was a kind of single-man rocket carried to its target by a Type-1 Ground Attacker. The Ouka was released when approaching the target and hurtled into the enemy ship. The Kaiten was a small oneman submarine with a warhead located at the front. It was transported by a destroyer and fired at the enemy, which is why it was called “Human torpedo.” The Shinyo was a small motorboat loaded with explosives that was driven into enemy shipping. All of these weapons were deployed in battle, and more were in the process of being developed when the war came to an end.

[Kevin Kato · Rating 4 out of 5]

What struck me when I first saw this book was that there could be a memoir by a kamikaze pilot. Didn't they all die?

Two reasons I loved this book: That it is a firsthand account, not some outsider's commentary, and that the author, while offering his occasional (and scathing) opinions on certain aspects of his experiences, leaves the reader to come to his or her own conclusions.

Odachi's narrative foray into his life post-WWII seemed a bit gratuitous at first but I came to see that it served not only to give the reader a ground-level look into post-war Japan but allowed for insights into how a former Kamikaze, once so admired, could be so determined to keep his past a secret.

The one downside to the edition I read was the inordinate amount of typos in the book. A heads-up for all you analytical types.

Check out my full(er) rundown of the story here: https://kevinkatoendeavors-japan.blog...

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fascinating and heartbreaking. I had no idea kamikaze pilots were so young, and the casual disregard by the navy officials for these young lives is difficult to imagine. The author was only 17 when he "volunteered" to be a kamikaze. He went to flight school, but many of the pilots didn't. Some had less than 100 hours of flight time before they were sent to their deaths. The author is both proud of his service but also angry at the futility of the program. Now in his 90s, the author still teaches kendo to children, and feels a great responsibility to the memory of his friends who died in the war.

[KexinWei · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book shares the Japanese soldiers in the Philippines and Taiwan at the end of the WWII, especially in a view of the Kamikaze pilot. After the reading done, the fighting in the sky and waiting of the death order are still overwhelming my head. The post-war life, on the contrary, is more like a dream and doesn't attract me that much, but it's still a great reference for Japan culture or Kendo lovers. Nevertheless, this book is a biography of Odachi-san and not specific to war memoirs, which I truly understand. War is bad, but I do appreciate and admire the young who devote their life for their people.

[Ben Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was such a great book looking at how the other side thought of the United States and the war. I do have to say that the book was a bit half and half. What I mean by this is that half the book talked about WWII and being a Kamikaze, but then after the war the author talks about his life as a police office and master of Kendo. Both parts were good reads, but one might be confused by the title, but if you really think about it, the author always goes back to his experiences as a Kamikaze polit and how he has to live for his brothers that he lost. I would highly recommend this book to those that love history.

[Clay Olmstead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Educational

The description of the recruitment and training of kamikaze pilots was eye-opening. I also learned a lot about Kendo, which I knew very little about previously. The discussions of Japanese politics was also enlightening. The story dragged somewhat in the post-war period when the author was describing the daily life of a policeman, but picked up again at the end. The other downside is that I find myself writing in short, declarative sentences with little punctuation.

I would highly recommend this book to anybody who is interested in WWII history.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to see the side from the Japanese side, especially a Kamikaze pilot who against all odds survived the war. He talks about his friends who were killed during Kamikaze missions and he strives to live the rest of his life in honor and remembrance of them since their lives were cut short. Apparently for the pilots it wasn’t as much of a “volunteer” force as once thought of and the author touches base on his experience with. About half of the book is about his military service and the other about his police work and his passion for Kendo.

[Daryl C. Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating Story

My father was on an aircraft carrier, USS Be all way Wood, which was hit by a kamikaze. He was not injured, but shaken as were all crew members who survived the attack. As a young boy in the 1950's and later in life I remember that the kamikaze were depicted as crazy and their feet were encased in concrete in the cockpit such that they were going to die anyway. What nonsense! This book shows that they were well disciplined, but very young boys following orders for their country.

[Komi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The biggest takeaway from this is that one should question their Nation. Patriotism is great but at what expense. I would hope to never be in their shoes. Dying for a nation that would not truly mourn you. Life is short and we shouldn't kill ourselves for our nation but at the same time defending ones homeland is imperative. Such a shame humans cant play nice. I wonder how things will be once resources are depleted in the far future.

[Ward Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by my dear friend, cousin, and rabbi, Howard. As a boy, I was taught that Kamikaze pilots were crazed, suicide bombers. This book goes into detail about their lives during WWII and most interestingly after the war. Many felt a need to keep their history hidden. There is much more to their story than just crashing planes into ships. I especially enjoyed the tales of police work and Kenpo.

[Jessi Alston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, moving, incredible; it opened my eyes to a side of history that I could've never imagined going into. I almost relate to the author (not majorly, on account that I was never asked to go into a plane and sacrifice my life for my country), but the things he says especially about post-war Japan had me nodding with empathy.
Amazing book--especially coming from a boy who isn't too into nonfiction.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so rare to be able to see a first-hand perspective from the other side of the war. This book has brought me to tears so many times because of the vividly described experience through the most challenging moments faced by the author, and the wise realizations afterwards. This book is nothing short of phenomenal.

[Jack Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaamikazi. The inside tale

This book will give you an insight into the Japanese state of mind and particularly the point of view of the very young men who flew the kamikaze missions. You’ll be startled and surprised. By all means read this book it’s a fascinating insight

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. It broke my heart and then healed it again. I started to get into aircrafts after reading this because of his descriptions of "zeros". He was only 17 and risking his life, every day.

[Raul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might not be the best literary exercise but I love this book as it touches exactly the period I love, the Japan pre and post war era, with all the mentality changes and from the point of view of a humble person as Mr Odachi. I enjoyed a lot reading it