There are people who strive to keep the memory of child soldiers alive today.

“Do you know about the kamikaze attacks?”

This was part of a special lesson held in July for sixth-grade students at Misaki Elementary School. Former teacher Eriko Takatoku (58) spoke to the children. “In the desperation of war, they devised a tactic of strapping bombs to their bodies and crashing into targets. My uncle also died this way, and even now, it fills me with deep regret and sorrow.”

Takatoku’s motivation began ten years ago when she saw the 1945 reprinted issue of “Asahi Graph,” published to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the war’s end. The cover photo showed a young soldier in a flight suit smiling while holding a puppy and a doll. Something about it struck her—the resemblance in his eyes to her late father in his youth and her own son made her feel, “This is family.”

She asked her mother and researched records…

Misaki Elementary School

Misaki Elementary School is a historic school located in Misaki, Japan, known for its long-standing role in local education. Established in the early 20th century, it has served generations of students and reflects traditional Japanese school architecture. The school is also recognized for its community involvement and cultural significance in the region.

Asahi Graph

“Asahi Graph” (朝日グラフ) was a Japanese pictorial magazine published by *The Asahi Shimbun* from 1923 to 2000. It was one of Japan’s earliest and most influential photo journals, documenting major historical events, daily life, and cultural trends throughout the 20th century. The magazine played a key role in photojournalism in Japan before ceasing publication due to declining readership in the digital age.