Hiroo Onoda and the Pacific War

Hiroo Onoda, a native of Kainan, Japan was called upon to join the army at the tender age of 20. Unlike most soldiers who attended a school that trained men for guerilla warfare, Onoda was drafted into the Japanese Army and was one of the chosen few to be trained by an Imperial Army intelligence school where he was taught different techniques on how to properly gather intelligence and carry out guerilla warfare. (Rosenberg, p.1)

On December 17, 1944, Lt. Hiroo Onoda arrived in the Philippines to join the Sugi Brigade (the eight division from Hirosaki). Major Yoshimi Taniguchi and Major Takahashi assigned Onoda to lead the Lubang Garrison in guerilla warfare. Onoda and his comrades stopped by to report to the division commander before going on their separate missions.

The camp commander ordered them to fight until the very end and to not surrender under any circumstances. Onoda took these words more literally and seriously than the division commander could ever have meant them. (Rosenberg, p. 1)

On the Island of Lubang, Onoda was supposed to blow up the pier at the harbor and destroy the Lubang airfield. Unfortunately, the garrison commanders were worried about other matters that they decided not to help Onoda on his mission which resulted on the overrun of the Allies in the island. The remaining soldiers including Onoda drew back on the inner regions of the island to hide and regroup. As these groups dwindled down in sizes after several attacks, Onoda's cell still refused to surrender. (Rosenberg, p. 1)

Despite the efforts of the Philippine Army, letters and newspapers left for them, radio broadcast and even a plea from his brother, Onoda still continue to fight despite the fact that he was left alone. He did not believe that the war was indeed over until he encountered Norio Suzuki; a young Japanese college drop out who went to the Philippines to purposely search for him. Onoda explained to the student that he would only surrender under the order of his commander. Suzuki went back to Japan and found Onoda's former commander Major Tanaguchi. On March 9, 1974, Suzuki and Tanaguchi met with him and the major read the orders that stated that all combat activities were to be closed. Upon hearing this, Onoda was quite shock and it took him sometime to absorb the reality of his causeless struggle. He then later came back to Japan where he was hailed as hero. However, Japan changed a lot after he left it in 1944 so he decided to leave the country that he fought for more than 30 years and migrated in Brazil where he bought a ranch and settled down. (Rosenberg, p. 2)

Lt. Onoda's attitude provides a modern illustration of how a samurai serve upon their master in terms of what is written in the Bushido Code. Bushido, which literarily means "way of warrior," is a code and way of life for a class of warrior called Samurai. The code put emphasis on "loyalty, self sacrifice, justice, sense of shame, purity, modesty, etc." which was adopted from the various influences of religion and philosophy within the region. These values were clearly seen on Onoda's character. Despite the many trials and hardships that he encountered in the island, he still continued to struggle for survival and refused to surrender though a lot of people were saying that the war was over. He did not even believe his own brother but instead waited until his commander ordered that all combat operations were to be ceased. This behavior is also similar to the code's value for loyalty and patriotism. Onoda chose to stay in the island amidst all the news suggesting the end of war and despite the fact the he was on his own with no companion to watch his back. He was still very much willing to fight for his country if the need for it arises. The same attitude can be observed on samurais who pledge themselves to the emperor and their daimyo and serves as their protectors no matter what happened. Furthermore, Onoda's stay inside the wild tropics of the island meant major sacrifice and resiliency on his part. Onoda made woven sandals from woven straws and bits of old tires held together with string and wooden pegs. When his cloth was rotted, he patches them with tent canvas, using a piece of wire as needle and plant fiber as thread. He also built shelters of branches, bamboo, vines and leaves. These actions resemble the teaching of the code on stoicism wherein the samurai must show no sign of pain and endure all within which makes a samurai a complete warrior.

After decades of struggle on the island, Onoda was still determined to fight because his commander told him to do so. He was very committed on his responsibility not only for his commander but also more importantly for his country. Death was not an option for him so he found ways and means to survive as he remembers clearly the instruction of his commander, "you are absolutely forbidden to die by your hand. It may take three, it may take five, but whatever happens, we will comeback for you" (Rosenberg, p. 1). Every word that came out of his commander's mouth was taken seriously and followed by all his heart and soul. And so he waited until he finally met his commander again. Indeed, Onoda's character really represented a modern samurai who was really a warrior not just by name but also by heart. From the time he was chosen to be a soldier, he already set his mind to be one until the very end.

His actions reflected the traditional Japanese value of loyalty and patriotism that originated from their primary religion Shintoism. Like a samurai who is loyal to his master, Onoda followed religiously the orders of his commander not only for the sake of their battalion but also for the honor of his country. Onoda was also very resilient and resourceful, taking advantage of the abundant natural resources on his surroundings to provide for his basic needs. These same characteristics are what made Japan what it is right now, a developed and modern society despite the many tragedies they've experienced in the pass most specifically the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing.