Islanders Who Moved to the Surrender Site

We snuck by the guards and came down the mountains
Even jumped about 3 meters off cliffs or anything to runaway
There was the Utaha Dam, the current Aka Island Dam
We ran towards it
After nightfall, we wrapped something noticeable on a pole
And waved it until the U.S. Soldiers came
We were captured and taken on their vehicles
People of Aka Island were taken to Geruma Island

Conditions of Geruma Island

There was a white flag standing at the cape of Geruma Island
To make clear of Japan’s unconditional surrender
We lived there for about half a year

Condition of Aka Island upon Return

It wasn’t completely destroyed, there were parts of buildings that were only half destroyed
With the other half the same as before
We rationed powdered milk, rice, and flour from the American soldiers
We ate something like emergency foods

Youth Men’s Association, Core of Rehabilitation of Aka Island

There was a Youth Men’s Association
Because we felt the younger people had to help to get back on our feet
Both male and female worked hard to restore the island
Fields were burned but we gathered things that washed up
From the ocean to make thatched houses
We cut the grass
We made a Youth Men’s Club and did various things
There was a temporary shed, used as a school to study
There were houses made of stone for lodging
Because we had the Youth Men’s Club
Whenever there were events on certain months
Participation of young men was mandatory
Every single person cooperated to work together

Supplies Drifting onto the Beach of Aka Island

There was a lot of waste, like fuel oil
There were hundreds of ships surrounding us
So there were tons that washed up
And even coal tar
I ate an apple that washed up
I was a child, I didn’t even know it was an apple
I just washed it with sea water and ate it because it was good
I thought I could eat anything that was floating
There was once a soft rubber that was floating
I put it in my mouth
Tried to chew it but I couldn’t
I learn that there were food that couldn’t be chewed
I had no idea
At the time, I had only ever eaten fish and raw foods
I was starving, so I swallowed it
But spat it back out
I didn’t have anything to wash it down
I couldn’t drink the sea water
Well, I did I drink a little but
I think I swallowed it down
I thought it would help my hunger
I would sometimes run up the mountain too
I had 4 or 5 classmates, we were going to the bay
Because things had washed up
It was a race, to take the floating objects
We swam to claim things for ourselves
Floating things on the other side was edible
That’s what we all believed
There was something soft
It was about 10cm so I grabbed it
I was wondering why it was so soft
When I tried to eat it, it was poop
I tell this story to my children and grandchildren till this day
To tell them what it was like to live back then

Looking Back on the War in Aka Island

What I thought about was eating
I still have the memory of
Taking care of old ladies that passed away from illnesses,
With their stomachs bloated,
Without even realizing they were dead

A Message to Your Children and Grandchildren’s Generation

To battle, might be human nature
No matter what anyone says
There is no need for war
We’ve kept telling ourselves so that we would never forget
It is better not to have wars, or even be in them