The final farewells of some of history's most iconic royals
Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945. The announcement was made on the radio by Emperor Hirohito in August 1945, however, the news didn't reach everyone.
The Japanese Empire was quite expansive during that time period, spanning from the continent to a significant portion of the Pacific.
Communication throughout the empire became difficult, particularly due to the destruction of crucial infrastructures by the Allies.
A significant number of Japanese individuals struggled to accept the fact that their country had given up. Some outright refused to endure the consequences of defeat, while others dismissed the news as mere propaganda from the Allied forces.
Captain Sakae Ōba, an official from the Imperial Japanese Army, along with 46 soldiers and 160 civilians, concealed themselves on Saipan Island to undertake guerilla warfare.
Oba, known as "The Fox," continued to resist for 16 months even after Saipan was taken over, and for three more months after the end of World War II. He decided to surrender to the Americans on December 1, 1945. Oba eventually passed away in 1992 at 78 years old.
Lieutenant Ei Yamaguchi, along with other survivors, managed to evade American forces and seek refuge in a network of underground tunnels after the capture of the island of Peleliu in 1944. Unaware of the war's conclusion, they remained hidden and weren't informed of the official surrender.
In April 1947, one of the holdouts was caught, although several others remained concealed and believed that Japan was still engaged in war. To validate the news, a Japanese admiral had to be transported to the island. On April 21, 1947, Ei Yamaguchi and the remaining holdouts finally surfaced and surrendered.
The southern portion of Sakhalin Island in Russia was under Japanese jurisdiction during WWII. The Soviets subsequently invaded that area and apprehended Ishinosuke Uwano, who was then relocated to a camp in Siberia. As a result, Uwano's family and friends lost track of him.
Ishinosuke Uwano later departed the camp and became a citizen of the Soviet Union. He established a family and settled in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Upon his return to Japan, he faced the unfortunate situation of having lost his citizenship, as he had been pronounced dead in 2000.
In 1944, Noboru Kinoshita experienced an attack by the Americans which resulted in the sinking of his ship near the Philippines. He was one of the fortunate individuals who managed to survive and reach Samar Island. Afterward, Kinoshita joined the Japanese forces and embarked on a military mission in the dense jungles of Luzon island.
Noboru Kinoshita, unaware of the war's end, managed to survive in the jungle, anticipating rescue. This lasted for a remarkable 11 years. Unfortunately, in 1955, Filipino authorities arrested him for pilfering sweet potatoes from a farmer. Regrettably, one month later, Kinoshita took his own life.
Shoichi Yokoi, an Imperial Japanese Army sergeant, holds the record as the third-longest holdout. After US forces captured Guam, Yokoi and nine fellow soldiers sought refuge in the jungle. Yokoi outlived his companions, with the last two passing away in 1964.
Yokoi became aware of Japan's loss in 1952, yet he maintained his refusal to surrender. In January 1972, a pair of local individuals discovered Shoichi Yokoi and took him back to society. The picture shows a replica of the cave he resided in for many years.
Yokoi, who had spent the past 28 years secluded in the jungle, efficiently adjusted to urban living in Japan, earning popularity as a celebrity figure. Yokoi passed away in 1997.
In 1944, there was an attack on a Japanese convoy that resulted in its sinking near Anatahan, an island in the Northern Mariana Islands. Following this incident, 36 men successfully reached the island and were warmly greeted by the owner of a coconut plantation and his wife. However, the Americans subsequently focused on capturing the main Mariana Islands, which meant that Anatahan was left cut off from communication and essential supplies.
In January 1945, a B-29 bomber crashed into the island, providing the castaways with valuable resources. They utilized the plane's metal remains to create practical items such as clothing made from parachutes and fishing lines from nylon cords.
On the island, there was only one woman named Kazuko Higa. Her husband vanished under mysterious circumstances when the soldiers arrived. Eventually, she wed Kikuichiro Higa, a castaway who met a tragic end. Higa reputedly had a string of lovers as the men vied for her affections.
The situation deteriorated when the group figured out how to ferment coconut wine. It remains uncertain if the introduction of alcohol to the island was connected to the staggering twelve homicides that transpired by 1951.
Despite receiving leaflets informing them that the war had ended, the group on the island dismissed it as enemy propaganda and only surrendered in 1951.
Kazuko Higa, known as "The Queen Bee of Anatahan," gained fame in Japan. However, she later turned to prostitution and eventually passed away at the age of 51. By that time, she was working as a garbage collector.
Hiroo Onoda gained fame as a notable holdout. Working as a spy, Onoda, a skilled commando, chose to conceal himself on the island of Lubang in western Philippines, following the American occupation. Lieutenant Onoda, along with his comrades, managed to endure in the wilderness for approximately three decades.
Leaflets, letters, and photos from their families were dropped by air onto the island. However, Onoda and his comrades rejected them, deeming it false information. Gradually, Onoda began to lose his fellow soldiers. One left voluntarily, another was killed by a search party, and a police officer shot dead another. Eventually, Onoda found himself completely alone.
In 1974, Hiroo Onoda was discovered by a backpacker. Despite his refusal to accept defeat, the Japanese government had to locate Onoda's old commanding officer, who gave him the order to surrender. It was only after this that Onoda finally turned in his sword.
During his refusal to surrender, Onoda caused extensive property damage and was responsible for the deaths of several civilians in the Philippines. Nevertheless, he was never held responsible for these acts.
Hiroo Onoda returned to Japan as a hero. A year later, he emigrated to Brazil, where he became a rancher. Onoda passed away in 2014, aged 91.
Teruo Nakamura, known as "the last of the last" Japanese holdouts, found himself on Morotai island (now Indonesia) in 1944 when the island was seized by American forces. Nakamura then sought refuge in the jungle alongside a group of soldiers.
The group stayed together for approximately ten years, but in 1956 Nakamura made the decision to pursue a solo career. Eventually, a pilot noticed him and notified the authorities. On December 18, 1974, Teruo Nakamura was apprehended and transported to Jakarta for medical treatment.
In contrast to Hiroo Onoda, Teruo Nakamura didn't garner as much recognition in Japan. This might be attributed to Nakamura's background as a colonial soldier hailing from the land that became Taiwan. As a colonial soldier, he wasn't part of the Imperial Japanese Army.
Nakamura, not being a member of the Imperial Japanese Army, did not receive any pension or benefits. Japan awarded Onoda approximately US$160,000, but Nakamura received a mere US$227. Nakamura returned to Taiwan, where he lived for five more years before succumbing to cancer.
Sources: (The Guardian) (BBC) (Warfare History Network) (History Collection) (INQUIRER.net) (YourStory)
World War II officially ended on September 2, 1945, when Japan surrendered to the Allied forces. However, for some soldiers, the war didn't really end. Some didn't believe the news of defeat, thinking it was enemy lies, and others never received the news at all. A handful of these individuals hid deep in the jungles and held onto their weapons, refusing to surrender until many years later!
In this gallery, you'll discover the incredible true stories of some well-known Japanese holdouts. Click on to find out more.
These Japanese soldiers refused to surrender when WWII ended
Some of them remained hidden and on defense for decades
LIFESTYLE War