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...

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.
However, after being trap in what seems to be a never-ending war for so many years, returning to Japan was not a wise option for Onoda. Although he was considered a national hero, the drastic changes that his country undergone was difficult for him to grasp. Being accustomed to the domestic life he experienced in the Philippines, his country's fast-paced and technology-driven society did not appeal to him. Realizing this condition, Onoda decided to leave his homeland not because he was not patriotic anymore, but because he knew that he does not fit to the modern culture that his country had adapted.

Reference List

Bushido: The Way of the Warrior, viewed 20 November 2006. http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/bushido/bindex.html

Hiroo Onoda: The One Man Army, viewed 20 November 2006. http://www.buzzle.com/editorials

Jennifer Rosenberg, The War is Over..Please Comeout, viewed 20 November 2006. http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/soldiersurr.htm.