The WWII Japanese Soldier Who Didn’t Surrender Until 1974
TLDRHiroo Onoda, a Japanese intelligence officer, is renowned for not surrendering until 1974, almost three decades after World War II ended. Trained at the Nakano School, Onoda was sent to Lubang Island where he received orders to survive and lead any remaining soldiers, with a promise of return from his commanding officer. Despite Japan's surrender in 1945, Onoda and his dwindling group, misled by propaganda and a lack of information, continued their mission, even after repeated attempts to convince them of the war's end. In 1974, after the death of his last companion, Onoda was finally convinced to surrender by his former commanding officer. Pardoned in the Philippines, he returned to Japan as a popular figure but struggled to adapt to the post-war society. Onoda later moved to Brazil, where he led a different life, reflecting on his past as a soldier who was ordered to live and fight, not to die.
Takeaways
- 🎓 Hiroo Onoda was a Japanese intelligence officer who continued fighting after World War II ended, refusing to surrender until 1974.
- 🌿 Onoda was part of the Nakano School, trained in guerrilla warfare and intelligence-gathering, and was sent to Lubang Island in the Philippines.
- 🚫 Major Yoshimi Taniguchi's orders to Onoda included living off the land and not to commit suicide, with a promise to return for him.
- 🏝️ After the U.S. conquest of Lubang Island in 1945, Onoda and a few soldiers retreated into the jungle, continuing their resistance.
- 📢 The group dismissed leaflets announcing Japan's surrender as Allied propaganda, choosing to continue their mission.
- 🧐 Onoda's group was unaware of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which influenced their disbelief in the surrender.
- 🏃 Yuichi Akatsu escaped and surrendered in 1950, increasing the remaining soldiers' suspicion of disloyalty.
- 🔍 Search missions and family letters dropped from aircraft were also dismissed as tricks by the remaining soldiers.
- ⚔️ Corporal Shoichi Shimada was killed in 1954 after firing on a search party, leaving Onoda and Private First Class Kinshichi Kozuka.
- 👮♂️ Kozuka was killed by police in 1972, and Onoda continued alone until he was found by explorer Norio Suzuki in 1974.
- 🛂 Major Yoshimi Taniguchi traveled to the Philippines to officially relieve Onoda of his duty, leading to his surrender.
- 🇵🇭 The Philippine government pardoned Onoda, acknowledging his belief that the war was still ongoing.
- 📚 Onoda struggled to adjust to post-war Japan and later moved to Brazil, where he lived until his final years.
- 💭 In interviews, Onoda expressed his commitment to his orders and the competitive spirit that drove him throughout his ordeal.
Q & A
Who was Hiroo Onoda and what was his role in the Imperial Japanese Army?
-Hiro Onoda was a Japanese intelligence officer in the Imperial Japanese Army who refused to surrender until 1974, long after World War II had ended. He was trained at the Nakano School, where he learned guerrilla warfare and intelligence-gathering.
What was the term used to describe Japanese soldiers who continued to fight after the end of World War II?
-The term used to describe these soldiers was 'Zanryū nipponhei', which translates to 'remaining Japanese soldiers'.
Why did Hiro Onoda and his group not surrender after Japan's formal surrender in September 1945?
-Onoda and his group did not surrender because they were either indoctrinated with a dogmatic, militaristic mindset or they were simply unaware of the surrender. They also dismissed leaflets and other forms of communication as propaganda tricks.
What were the orders given to Hiro Onoda by Major Yoshimi Taniguchi?
-Major Yoshimi Taniguchi ordered Onoda to live off the land, forbidden him to die by his own hand, and instructed him to continue to lead any remaining soldiers until the Japanese forces returned for him, no matter how long it took.
What happened to the group of soldiers under Hiro Onoda's command over time?
-Over time, the group was reduced to just Hiro Onoda and three others after the U.S. conquest of Lubang Island. Eventually, one soldier escaped and surrendered, another was killed by a search party, and the third was shot and killed by the police during a skirmish.
How did Hiro Onoda's situation change after Norio Suzuki, a Japanese explorer, found him?
-Norio Suzuki had the idea to locate Onoda's original commanding officer, Major Yoshimi Taniguchi. Taniguchi traveled to the Philippines to fulfill his promise and end his orders in person, which led to Onoda's surrender.
What was the Philippine government's stance on Hiro Onoda after his surrender?
-The Philippine government, under President Ferdinand Marcos, granted Onoda a pardon. They took into consideration that he had killed 30 innocent people during his campaign on the island, but he believed the war was still ongoing.
How did Hiro Onoda adjust to life after returning to Japan?
-Onoda found it difficult to adjust to the new post-war Japan and the perceived decay of its traditional values. He published an autobiography and eventually left Japan for Brazil, where he raised cattle and opened a series of training schools.
What did Hiro Onoda say about his role and mindset as a Japanese soldier in his later years?
-In his later years, Onoda stated that every Japanese soldier was prepared for death, but as an intelligence officer, he was ordered to conduct guerrilla warfare and not to die. He felt shame if he could not carry out an order and described himself as very competitive.
What is Skillshare and how does it relate to the video script?
-Skillshare is an online learning community with more than 17,000 classes. It is mentioned in the video script as the sponsor of the video about Hiro Onoda. The script also mentions the use of Adobe Illustrator and Premiere Pro, which are skills that can be learned through Skillshare.
What is the offer provided by Skillshare to the viewers of the video?
-Skillshare is offering the first 200 people who use the promo link in the video description two months' free access to try out their platform risk-free.
What is the significance of Hiro Onoda's story in the context of military indoctrination and the impact of war?
-Hiro Onoda's story highlights the depth of military indoctrination and its lasting effects on soldiers, even after the official end of a conflict. It also raises questions about the responsibility of soldiers who continue to fight when they believe the war is still ongoing.
Outlines
🎖️ Hiroo Onoda: The Soldier Who Fought On
The first paragraph introduces Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese intelligence officer who continued to fight even after World War II had ended. Onoda was indoctrinated with a strong sense of duty and was sent to Lubang Island with orders to survive and lead any remaining soldiers. Despite Japan's surrender, he and his group believed leaflets announcing the end of the war were propaganda. They survived by raiding locals, and over time, their group dwindled. Onoda was eventually found by a Japanese explorer in 1974, but only surrendered after his former commanding officer personally relieved him of duty. The Philippine government pardoned him, and he returned to Japan as a popular figure but struggled to adapt to post-war society. He later moved to Brazil.
📚 Onoda's Last Years and Skillshare Promotion
The second paragraph focuses on Hiroo Onoda's reflections in his later years, emphasizing the mindset of Japanese soldiers and his personal sense of duty and competitiveness. It transitions into a promotion for Skillshare, an online learning platform offering a wide range of classes. The video's creators highlight the use of Adobe Illustrator and Premiere Pro in their work and encourage viewers to learn these skills on Skillshare. A promotional offer is presented, providing two months of free access to the first 200 people who use the provided link.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Hiroo Onoda
💡Zanryū nipponhei
💡Nakano School
💡Lubang Island
💡Major Yoshimi Taniguchi
💡Surrender
💡Paranoia and Hostilities
💡Imperial Japanese Army
💡Guerilla Warfare
💡Skillshare
💡Post-war Japan
💡Autobiography
Highlights
Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese intelligence officer, refused to surrender until 1974, decades after World War II had ended.
Onoda was one of the 'remaining Japanese soldiers' known as Zanryū nipponhei, who continued fighting due to indoctrination or lack of awareness of Japan's surrender.
He was trained in guerrilla warfare and intelligence-gathering at the Nakano School.
Major Yoshimi Taniguchi gave Onoda orders to survive and not to die by his own hand, with a promise to return.
Onoda's mission was to sabotage an enemy airstrip and pier, but higher-ranked officers interfered, leading to an easy U.S. conquest.
After the war, Onoda and his group dismissed leaflets announcing Japan's surrender as Allied propaganda.
The group continued to raid locals for resources, believing them to be disguised Allied soldiers.
Yuichi Akatsu escaped from the group in 1949, and the remaining members became more cautious of disloyalty.
Search missions with letters and pictures from the soldiers' families in 1952 were also dismissed as tricks.
Corporal Shoichi Shimada was killed by a search party in 1954 after he fired on them.
Onoda and Private First Class Kinshichi Kozuka continued their mission until Kozuka's death in 1972.
Japanese explorer Norio Suzuki found Onoda in 1974, but he still refused to surrender until his commanding officer personally ended his orders.
Onoda returned to Japan as a popular figure but struggled to adjust to post-war society and its changing values.
He published an autobiography, moved to Brazil in 1975, and opened a series of training schools.
The Philippine government pardoned Onoda for his actions during his time on the island, considering his belief that the war was ongoing.
Onoda's last years were marked by his belief in the readiness of Japanese soldiers for death and his commitment to his orders.
The video was made possible by Skillshare, an online learning community offering a wide range of classes.
Skillshare is offering two months' free access to the first 200 people using the promo link provided.
Transcripts
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