During the war, the Army established a school to train boys from across the country as pilots. In the final stages of the war, many of these boys participated in suicide missions and lost their lives. How did these young boys become soldiers and go off to war? We spoke to those connected to them.
“When all your comrades, who endured the same harsh training, are going, how could you alone refuse?”
Aoki Isamu (96), a former teenage pilot, recalls being asked about his willingness to join.
He entered the Tokyo Army Youth Pilot School in October 1943 at the age of 14. His three older brothers were already serving in the military, and his motivation was simple: “For the sake of the country, I wanted to fly a plane.”
“Banzai! Banzai!”
At his departure, many neighbors came out to see him off, holding lanterns and waving. “I can become a soldier too.” He felt proud, but his parents stood with their heads bowed, crying.
Once enrolled, a grueling routine awaited him. Mornings were filled with academics—Japanese, mathematics, meteorology—while afternoons were packed with military drills: crawling with rifles, marksmanship, swordsmanship, and more. Every minute was scheduled, and each day was consumed by training.
The most unbearable part was the squad leader…
