Living with Hiroshima

"That Day' to be passed on" by Keiko Murakami is the author-edited version of the series with the same title that appeared in the Jyoyo Newspaper July 25 to October 4, 2005.
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Kim Jong Il in North Korea reigns over his country. The information available through media about him, his country and people under his dictatorship may be something unimaginable to the Japanese, especially to the younger generations, but Japan had been in an even harsher situation until it was defeated on August 15, 1945. Kim Jong Il is a “human” being who ranks top in North Korea, but the Emperor in Japan was a “divine” being, a living god in a human figure. A god is an absolute being. The Japanese people were obliged to live loyally to the Emperor and die bravely for him. They had no luxury to think how to live. Those who resisted had a tough time and some died in jail.

Today’s elementary school was called “national elementary school” in those days. It was an institution meant to nurture character that fits into the Imperial System. At each school there was a structure called “Hoanden” where a photo of the Emperor and Empress was placed. When we passed in front of it, we bowed deeply. Every morning we bowed in the direction of the Imperial Palace. When we came across soldiers in town, we stopped to salute.

On December 8, 1941, the Japanese Army made a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, with the goal of liberating Asian countries, the invasions escalated into the war against the Allied Forces of the U.S.A, U.K., Soviet Union, China and others. The Japanese people were convinced of the victory of the Imperial Army. Therefore, we endured all the hardships and inconveniences in our daily lives, physically and psychologically, reciting slogans such as “We’ll do without until we win,” “A hundred million united as one to be an irresistible force,” “Divine wind will blow” or “ Savage America and England.”