Key Facts
• July 11, 2025, marked 80 years since the Pacific War’s human torpedo missions.
• In 1944, Japan initiated “special attacks” involving human-piloted torpedoes called “Kaiten.”
• Kaiten measured 15 meters, carried 1.5 tons of explosives, and targeted enemy ships.
• A training base was established on Otsushima Island, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
• On the second night of training, inventors Hiroshi Kuroki and Takashi Higuchi disappeared.
• Their torpedo sank to the seabed, leaving them trapped for 12 hours.
• The two officers left accident reports and farewell letters before oxygen ran out.
• Their message: “Progress comes by overcoming sacrifices. Investigate the cause of failure.”
• 106 Kaiten pilots died during missions or training accidents.
• Over 1,000 others, including maintenance crew and submarine personnel, also perished.
• The full moon, unchanged since the war, continues to evoke memories of the past.
Summary
On July 11, 2025, under a full moon, Japan reflected on the 80th anniversary of the human torpedo “Kaiten” missions during World War II. Developed in 1944 as a desperate measure during Japan’s declining war efforts, Kaiten were piloted torpedoes designed for suicide attacks on enemy ships. A training base was established on Otsushima Island, where inventors Hiroshi Kuroki and Takashi Higuchi tragically lost their lives during early training. Trapped underwater for 12 hours, they left behind poignant messages urging progress through sacrifice and investigation of failures. Over 1,000 lives were lost in connection with Kaiten operations. Today, the full moon serves as a silent witness to these memories, reminding us of the sacrifices made during wartime.
