Original subtitles

[Funeral of Ooishi Matsuno]

- Dad. - Grandpa.

Grandpa really cried his heart out.

That was my first time seeing him cry.

Your grandfather really loved your grandmother.

Seems Grandma really had a happy life.

But she had a hard time during the war.

Her first husband died as a Special Attack Force.

First husband?

Wait a moment. I hear that for the first time!

Really?

What do you mean by "really"?

He is my biological father.

Eh?

Yes.

Why are you sleeping at this time of the day?

Is that right for a person of your age?

Shut up! What do you want?

Remember the talk about Grandma's first husband.

Shouldn't we investigate it?

Eh?

That talk that we had!

Mum said she is also curious about it.

She didn't ask me for it. Why don't you do it yourself?

What are you saying, you silly fool?

This is our real biological Grandpa that we are talking about here.

Ain't you interested?

I am sorry,

but I am not buying that.

Next year will be the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII.

If we investigate this, maybe we can even publish a book!

Are you listening to me?

I don't want to stay a freelance writer forever.

Please help me!

So that is your aim!

You can go work something out on your own. I am hanging up.

Wait! Wait, wait, wait!

I will pay you for this.

[Ooishi]

Still the same, Grandpa.

You do have a lot of non-profitable cases.

People always think being a lawyer is a very profitable profession.

Are you going to make it?

As expected.

After failing for 4 years, I gotta re-think

if I'm really suited to take the bar exam.

Well, my resolve is weak, I suppose.

I thought I would be able to be like Grandpa...

Right?

Come on, Kentaro.

We are not here to talk about that, right?

You said we will investigate it further

if Grandpa has no objections.

Investigate?

Ah...yeah.

I see.

I didn't want to investigate this secretly behind your back.

No.

I want you to investigate it.

It is for your sake too.

Miyabe Kyuuzou. Born 1918 in Tokyo.

Joined the Navy Air Service in 1934.

Died in the battle of Okinawa in 1945.

Yeah. And he left no will.

There was barely any trace of his life.

He married Grandma in 1941 and Mum was born in the following year.

But their marriage lasted only 4 years

and during that period he was almost always on the battlefield.

He was 26 when he died.

26?

The same age as you are now.

What's with that?

This is impossible.

They wrote like that 60 years ago.

It's not easy to read, huh?

So what is this?

I searched the internet for a few of his comrades.

I wrote to them and asked if they knew Miyabe Kyuuzou.

And these are the replies.

Eh... that many?

Excuse me, Hasegawa-san. Do you know our grandfather?

Yes, I do.

Well, we are trying to find out what kind of person our grandfather was.

He was the biggest coward in the Navy Air Service.

A person who regarded his life as more important than anything else.

What does that mean?

In short,

he was obsessed with staying alive.

We pilots were all ready to give our life for the nation.

But this Miyabe Kyuuzou, he was different from us.

Rather than winning, this guy's only wish was to protect his own life.

When I lost my arm, his plane made it back safely without a single scratch.

Not a single bullet pierced through it.

In those chaotic fights, that was impossible!

That guy did not carry out his missions.

He kept hidden somewhere far away.

I beg your pardon, but my grandfather died as a Special Attack Force, right?

It is a little weird to say such a person was a coward.

If it's that guy,

it must have been an order from above and he went in tears.

Did something happen?

Mum...

Did you ever ask about Miyabe-san?

Yes, I did.

"What kind of a person was my true father?" I asked.

And?

Your Grandma just smiled and did not tell me anything.

Well, perhaps because the marriage wasn't very happy.

Maybe it was because that Miyabe-san did not have a very good reputation.

Is that so?

No, it's just a possibility.

Since we are going to investigate about him, such stuff might be revealed.

She never talked to me about him, so it could be the case.

The disgrace of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. So he was called.

He was always running away in the skies.

He was responsible for the loss of several bombers

because of his negligence to guard them.

Let's go.

Well, my grandfather

Miyabe-san was a coward, right?

Who did you hear that from?

Everyone has been saying it... that he was such a disgrace.

Please leave.

I have nothing to say to you.

Wait a moment please.

I told you to get out of here!

Just think about it.

If Miyabe was a coward, why did he join the Special Attack Unit?

You want to quit?

From the start everyone has been saying the same things.

"Coward", "Timid", "Fear of dying".

And in the end, even "Disgrace" was mentioned.

So I thought why not just say what they have been saying, but I was yelled at.

We are on our way to another interview, so what are you saying?

What I'm saying is this will be the last interwiew for me!

Being the descendant of such a person...

Coward...

It's true. That's what all those guys were calling him.

But it can't be helped.

They envied Platoon Sergeant for his skills of navigating a fighter plane.

His skills were good?

He was the best of the best.

If such a person was in the platoon,

he's expected to lead the way to the enemy and shoot them all down.

But Platoon Sergeant directed the fight from above

and kept himself out of the fight.

Right at the start of the battle in the air

he climbed to the higher skies to keep a lookout.

He hated to be involved in the fierce battle.

And that is the cause of the malicious rumors.

Do you know anything about the Zero fighter?

Not much.

The Zero fighter...

It was really a great plane.

It was able to turn sharp angles and maintain fast speed.

It was well equipped with weapons too.

And it was able to fly long distances.

In that time when other planes were only able to fly a few hundred kilometers,

a Zero fighter could do 1800 miles, about 3000 kilometers easily.

When the Zero fighter was manned with someone like Platoon Sergeant,

it was almost invincible.

But even then,

everyone still gossiped and called him a coward.

Well, I suppose it can't be helped.

No. 66! Wheels ready, hook ready.

Landing!

No. 66! Landing!

It's coming, it's coming!

Here it is!!

The landing on a carrier is different from the training on land.

Landing on the choppy waters is like riding a wild horse.

No. 68, wheels ready, hook ready. Landing!

No. 68! Landing!

Landed!

Pretty impressive!

That guy is no. 12, right?

Have you ever landed on a carrier before?

No, this is my first time landing,

but I followed what the previous pilots had taught me.

I am Master Sergeant Miyabe Kyuuzou. Please take care of me.

I am First Class Airman Izaki.

Hey.

If you admire Miyabe's skills, you will only be disappointed later.

He is the No.1 coward in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.

And his pet phrase is "Treasure your life".

After that, we received a vigorous training.

There were no rest days even on Saturdays and Sundays.

At that time, the capacity of the us 1st Air Fleet

was without doubt the highest in the world.

Because we had the best fighter planes in the world

combined with the best pilots in the world.

And Platoon Sergeant's abilities

were even better than the rest of the group.

And shortly later, the battle that would test our skills began.

The start of the Pacific War,

the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Fighters in position ready!

Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!

And then,

after leaving Barbers Point Beach, we could see Ford Island.

We headed for the battleships that were parked idly,

and the Special Attack Unit from the Navy Air Service launched the admirable attack!

We send torpedoes one after another.

Boom!

Really! We saw USS Arizona exploding!

And fumes of black smoke rose up!

Just like a volcano!

Master Sergeant Miyabe!

It's you, Izaki.

Why are you making such a long face? Are you not happy?

There were no carriers in sight.

I think the battle today was a failure since we didn't sink the carriers.

On top of that, there were 29 planes that did not make it back.

Today...

I saw a bomber that dived into the sea.

In an instant, 3 lives were lost.

It's scary.

I do not wish to die.

What are you saying!

At that moment, I was very disgusted with the words

"I do not wish to die" that Platoon Sergeant said.

And what Platoon Sergeant had been worrying about,

the fact that we did not sink their carriers,

had terrible consequences the following year on 5th of June,

when we were hit by their sudden attack.

That was the Battle of Midway.

Heave-ho!

Haven't they found the enemy carriers yet?

Could they have ran away in fear of us?

Look at the bombers.

The torpedoes are useless in this situation.

They believe there won't be carrier planes in the sky.

Enemy battle fleet sighted.

Change all land use bombs for torpedoes.

We just finished dismounting!

They are too willful!

Didn't you hear that?!

Mount the torpedoes once more! Do it!

Understood!

There is no time for this!

If a carrier is sighted, we have to start immediately!

But if we are using land use bombs, we will not be able to sink the carrier!

It doesn't matter if we can't sink them. We just have to attack first!

But if we attack, we should aim to sink them.

If that is the case, why change the torpedoes to land use bombs?

Our most important aims are the carriers,

so the torpedoes should have been left mounted

until they spotted the carriers.

If we are attacked now, we will be helpless!

Combat air patrol pilots, on deck immediately!

Good luck!

I'm off!

Yes! They hit it!

It is falling!

Yes!

Starboard!

Yes!

Good job!

Hey! Enemy aircraft descending from above!

Evacuate! Evacuate!

Can this be true?

That is what I saw of the Battle of Midway.

Having lost our carriers, we made an emergency landing on the sea.

We were later picked up by the destroyers' cutters.

Dad, let's stop here.

Yes, you need a rest.

No, I still have things I need to say.

In the summer of 1942,

we returned to the mainland

and were then sent off to Rabaul.

This was where the elite of the pilots

of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service could be found.

The well known pilots of Rabaul.

Shortly later, Miyabe-san got promoted to Platoon Sergeant

and me and a guy called Koyama got assigned to be his 2nd and 3rd pilots.

Izaki!

How can you stand that Platoon Sergeant!

Always flying upside down.

But the bottom of a fighter is our blind spot. He is just being cautious, I guess.

Even so, he is overdoing it! We are becoming a laughing-stock.

Serving under that guy is an order from above.

It can't be helped!

Once the battle really starts, we are the first to leave.

I want to fight the Americans!

And that obsession with every little detail.

Making a fuss when the engine is a little off.

When I am accelerating and decelerating, the vibrations are not right.

Please do a careful check once more.

Yes.

Even the maintenance crew are mad at him.

Platoon Sergeant, you are doing this kind of training daily?

Yeah.

Even on days we have to fly?

Yeah.

Why all this?

They took this at a studio and sent it to me.

My wife and my daughter.

Whenever I think it's tough and I want to give up, I look at this.

If I die, it won't make a difference to the war.

But the life of my wife and daughter would be heavily affected.

That is why to survive and return is of the utmost importance to me.

You treasure your life so much?

To survive and return, such speech from a Platoon Sergeant

was unthinkable in that age of time.

Well, if you haven't lived in that era,

you can't understand such feelings though.

That means,

my grandfather really loved my grandmother, right?

Yes.

We did not speak of love,

but Platoon Sergeant said clearly

he wanted to survive and return for the sake of his wife and daughter.

In our era, that was unmistakably

the same as saying, "I love them".

So he was not just a coward.

But a little later, the battle that determined the fate of our life started.

The biggest battlefield of the Pacific war,

the Islands of Guadalcanal and Solomon.

The Imperial Japanese Navy sent out the best pilots,

those who had taken part in the Pearl Harbour attack,

resulting in the loss of most pilots.

Everyone! Gather again at the command post!

The air attack on Raboul is canceled. We are heading for new targets!

The Allied cowardly waited for our airbase to be built.

They attacked once it was completed, wiped out that little forces we left,

and took over the airbase!

From now on,

we will carry out a bomb attack on Guadalcanal's land forces

and take revenge.

That's all.

Salute!

At ease!

- Dismiss! - Roger!

270 miles to Shortland Islands.

540 miles.

20...

560 miles?

This is impossible. We can't fight with this distance!

Miyabe, what did you just say?

Why are you always saying such things?

Get yourself together!

You are demoralizing the troops! Don't you dare say that again!

Platoon Sergeant! Why did you say such things?

In the first place,

do you know anything about Guadalcanal?

I don't, but I know what 560 miles means.

We can only reach it in 3.5 hours.

On top of these 3.5 hours comes being on the look-out for enemies.

Taking into consideration the fuel we need to come back,

fighting in the skies of Guadalcanal is limited to a mere 10 mins.

I can imagine what kind of a fight it will become.

It was just as Platoon Sergeant had said.

What's up?

I am flying back!

Flying back to do a suicide bombing?

No!

Stop it!

Platoon Sergeant...

We did it. We did it!

Damn it!

I will send help right away! Do what you can to hang in!

Koyama! Hang in there!!

There was no sign of Staff Sergeant Koyama at the landing spot.

What happened?

At the landing spot

there were sharks swimming around.

Platoon Sergeant!

Why did you not let him perform a suicide bombing?

Rather than being eaten by sharks,

Koyama would definitely feel happier dying courageously in an action against the enemy!

At that time there was still a chance that he could have been saved.

Do you seriously think he could have been saved?

I don't know!

But if he did a suicide bombing, he would have surely died.

You can die anytime, but it takes effort to live on.

Anyway,

there is no chance that we will survive this war.

If it's me,

please just let me do a suicide bombing!

Izaki, do you still not get it?

Don't you have a family?

Don't you have people who will feel sad if you die?

Answer me, Izaki!

I have my father and mother back in my hometown.

Only that?

I also have a brother.

Will your family not feel sad if you die?

They will.

Then don't die!

No matter how hard it is, try to stay alive!

During all this time,

that was the only scolding I got from Platoon Sergeant.

That's why his words stayed deep in my heart until now.

The words of Platoon Sergeant kept me going in an incident after I left Rabaul.

In 1944, in the Battle of the Philippine Sea,

a Grumman lying in ambush hit my fuel tank.

That was the closest shave I had with an enemy plane till then.

At that moment...

Izaki, do you still not get it?

Platoon Sergeant's voice resonated in my mind.

In the next moment, I descended rapidly and escaped.

My fuel got used up quickly and I made an emergency landing on the sea.

I swam for 9 hours in fear of sharks.

I fell into despair many times, but each time I was saved by Platoon Sergeant's voice.

No matter how hard it is, try to stay alive!

When I was standing at the point of death, I finally understood the meaning of his words.

Thanks to that I survived till today.

If not for Platoon Sergeant, my daughter would not have been born.

Now I can clearly say.

A man who choose to live like that during that era

was stronger than anyone else.

Only a strong person could endure such a living.

He was definitely not a coward.

But in the end,

my grandfather did not manage to see my grandmother and my mother before he died, right?

No, there was this one time after the Pearl Harbor attack,

when the Akagi was docked in Yokosuka Harbor.

Eh?

Platoon Sergeant told me about the visit in his hometown at that time.

[Miyabe]

Dear!

What's wrong?

Don't shock me like that.

When you come back, please contact me!

Ahh, I am terribly sorry.

Docking in Yokosuka Harbor is a strictly confidential matter.

Where is Kiyoko?

Are you Kiyoko?

Here, here, Kiyo-chan.

Here, see? It's dad!

She's so small!

Kiyoko.

How is the bath water?

Matsuno! It's terrible, Matsuno!

What happened?

I dozed off in the bath, but she is such a calm one.

She is enjoying it, I guess.

Right, Kiyo-chan?

It is nice to be in the bath with daddy, right?

Goodbye.

I have to go.

Please...

Take care.

Matsuno.

Definitely...

I will come back.

Even if I lose an arm

or a leg, I will come back.

Even if I die,

I will come back.

Once I am reborn,

I will definitely come back to you and Kiyoko.

Promise me.

To tell the truth, I am in the last stage of cancer.

Half a year ago, my doctor told me I still have 3 months.

But somehow I am still alive half a year later.

I think I understand now why my life lasted till today.

It's in order to tell this tale.

In order to tell you the tale of Platoon Sergeant.

Platoon Sergeant,

I met your grandchildren.

Platoon Sergeant,

can you see it?

I... want to know more.

I want to know much much more!

In order to return to his wife and daughter he gave his all not to die.

That's enough for me.

I had just wanted to hear that.

To think we have even met once!

But if that's the case, why?

Why did Grandfather chose to be in the Special Attack Unit?

Chairman Takeda, I have something to talk to you about.

It's you again!

I thought I told you that he has no time for you!

It is about the investigation of Miyabe Kyuuzou!

Please behave yourself!

Miyabe Kyuuzou?

Yes, please.

Well...

Now, all my appointments for this morning are canceled.

I am sorry.

You do look a little like him.

I remember Instructor very well.

When we first met, Miyabe-san was our Training Instructor.

In 1945, the war worsened.

Even us students who had been exempted from serving the army in the past,

were ordered to serve the nation.

With both strength and brains,

us students were all qualified to become pilots.

We were enlisted in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

and received a harsh training.

But there were almost no practices scheduled for learning how to fight in the air.

Why do you think that was so?

Right from the start, we students were all trained for the Special Attack Unit.

At first, we had no idea that we were training for the Special Attack Unit.

But once the training was over and before the assignment for the real battle,

the slip of paper to confirm our voluntary participation in the Special Attack Unit was given out.

The shock of getting that slip of paper was beyond imagination.

But after 3 days, most of the students decided to join voluntarily.

[Takeda Takanori]

In fact, of the 4400 people who died as a Special Attack Force,

around half were students like me.

Yes!

Take note of the lateral wind when landing.

- Yes! - That is all.

Salute!

At ease!

Dismissed!

Roger!

Instructor Miyabe!

I passed today, right?

You failed.

What is the meaning of that? I did well in the attack practice!

I was surprised how well you performed.

If that is so, then why? Explain to me!

You failed.

Failed, failed, failed!

When will that guy let us pass?

At this rate, we will never get out on the battlefield.

I heard that guy was useless because he run away at the front line.

That must be why they sent him back to the mainland!

It's getting on my nerves.

Rumor has it,

he refused to join the Special Attack Unit back in the Philippines.

Now it is making sense!

In short, that Miyabe is a coward!

And yet he refuses to let us pass.

He must be jealous that we are better than him.

Is it really true that he refused to join the Special Attack Unit?

I have no idea.

But if we are talking about that coward, it may be true.

No. 38! Descending!

No. 51! Descending!

Oh! Here comes Ito!

He is up next!

Ito! Ito!!

The dead prep school private was lacking discipline in his spirit.

What rubbish is this, destroying an important plane!

Losing his life before meeting the enemy,

he is a disgrace to the army, a disloyal person.

Major, that is not true.

The deceased private Ito was a great man.

He is not a disgrace to the army.

You!

Private Ito was a great man.

As a Special Attack Unit Training Officer, what are you saying!

I've heard rumors about you.

You haven't let these guys pass, right?

Do you not wish to send them to the Special Attack Unit?

Huh?

Just when this country is facing a crisis of survival!

You are such a disgrace!

Stand up. Stand up!

Stand up!

Instructor Miyabe!

Instructor...

Are you alright?

Yeah. Such things can happen.

Enemy aircraft to your right!

Disperse!

Hang in there!

Are you alright?

Why did you do such a stupid thing?

Instructor Miyabe is someone Japan needs. We cannot let you die.

No! You are the ones who are supposed to live on.

You should live on and do great things for this country!

It was careless.

I can fully understand the feelings of that prep school private.

After that, I was sent to Tomitaka Airbase in Kyuushu

and never managed to meet Instructor again.

When I heard he died as a Special Attack Force,

I couldn't bear it.

That person ought to have survived.

Why did my grandfather join the Special Attack Unit?

I have no idea.

The feelings of a Special Attack Force member

can only be understood by someone who was in the same situation.

The difference between me and a Special Attack Force pilot who would never return

is huge and that puts a tall barrier between us.

However,

I can still remember vividly the feelings of sending off my comrades.

The feelings back then are something

I could not forget even if I wanted.

Do you have a job?

I am still studying...

No, I am just lazing around.

I am embarrassed to say that.

You will be fine.

You have inherited Instructor Miyabe's bloodline.

I'm sure you will have a great career.

Do everything to make the best of your life.

Yes.

I would never have expected such a day to come.

The day I can tell Instructor's grandchild about myself.

Landing on an island due to an engine fault,

that could have been one of your alternatives.

Why did you choose to be a Special Attack Force, Kyuuzou-san?

Yes.

Hey, Kentarou, you're late! Where are you now?

That's just like a school trip!

Then how about Saipan?

Why are you being so stingy?

If we are going with girls, it has to be Hawaii, right?

Hawaii is good! Let's go to Hawaii!

Wow...

Eh? The dress code for today is suits?

Fool! There will be girls present today. This dress is really bad.

Really?

We are trying to get the tension up by telling them

to which resort we are going to bring them!

This is a team play! I'm begging you, don't drag us down!

Resort?

Saipan or Okinawa or...

Hawaii!

Sorry to keep you waiting!

- Good evening. This way please. Take a seat please. - It has been long since we met!

Nice to meet you!

Special Attack Unit?

Digging in history again...

Say, is there even time for you to be doing that?

Well, Kentaro has his own way of thinking, I suppose.

But I must say, suicide terrorism is not only something of the past.

Suicide terrorism? Why are you talking about this?

I beg your pardon, but suicide terrorism is different from the Special Attack Unit.

It is the same. In short, both are results of brain washing.

No, they are different. The targets of the Special Attack Unit were navy aircraft carriers.

Carriers are machines of mass destruction.

It's totally different from suicide terrorism that kills normal innocent people.

I can't really follow such talks.

Right?

It is not about such side issues.

Fundamentally, it's giving up one's life for an ideal.

Look, in the eyes of a foreigner,

the Special Attack Unit was the same as suicide terrorism.

They were crazily loyal to their country.

That's why I say...

Hey, hey!

I have read wills of those Special Attack Unit members.

They thought giving their live

for the sake of the nation was an honorable thing.

I guess that can be called some sort of heroism.

No, no. I beg your pardon, but you don't get it.

I know, I understand you well.

You have failed the bar exam so often that you start to doubt who you are.

You are just running away looking for your identity, right?

I'm telling you it is wrong!

What's with you?

Why are you so fired up?

In the first place, it doesn't really matter to us

whether suicide terrorism and Special Attack Unit is the same, right?

Yeah, we are here to have fun!

Right. Let's get back to drinking.

Sorry, I think I should go home.

Such a troublesome guy.

That sword thirsts for human blood.

Kageura-san.

What time do you think it is now?

Miyabe Kyuuzou... no...

Please tell me about my grandfather.

It seems you have matured a little.

You said your grandfather was a coward, right?

And I said I had nothing to say to a guy like that.

Did you do more research after that?

Yes.

But I can nowhere find an answer.

Why Miyabe chose to be a Special Attack Force?

Yes.

I know he wanted to survive.

But in the end, he cut the path to his hopes himself.

I... really hated that guy.

I loved fighting.

My real world was in the skies.

I didn't care if I died being shot by an enemy.

The more chaotic the war was, the more my blood seethed.

I wanted to live like a legendary sword master.

But that guy always came back without a scratch.

This guy clearly avoided fighting.

And yet that guy was an extremely skillful pilot.

I couldn't bear the presence of such a guy.

Sergeant Major Miyabe, I have a request.

What is it?

I want to do an air battle simulation with you.

There is no such need.

You have very good skills after all.

I heard that Sergeant Major Miyabe's air battle skill is out of this world.

Please give me a lesson.

I refuse.

Do you not want to fight?

Do you think you will lose to me?

Finally I can fight you, Sergeant Major Miyabe.

Got you!

It can't be! Why?

Shoot.

Shoot me! I opened fire at you!

Shoot and kill me!!

Shoot me! Shoot me! Kill me!

Shoot me!

I don't want to make an excuse.

I really did something unforgivable.

As to why the bullets missed him,

he pretended to be flying straight, but actually he was flying off tangent on purpose.

As I shot him straight on, the bullets just seemed to veer off course.

That guy tested me.

From that day onward, I became careful with my life.

I would not die until the day I shoot Miyabe down.

That was what I thought.

However, the war took a turn for the worse.

They gathered all forces, and in the Battle of the Marianas

the Japanese army suffered a huge defeat.

Saipan was captured and the Absolute National Defense Zone was lost.

The enemy chased us all the way till the Philippine Sea and Okinawa.

Being cornered, the Japanese army turned to crazy tactics.

That was the Special Attack Unit.

When I heard about the Special Attack plan, I shuddered.

This war had come to such a stage.

If there had been a chance of survival in this battle plan, I would have gladly joined.

But in the Special Attack plan, there was no chance of survival.

The success of the plan meant death.

This cannot be called strategy!

"If such strategy is devised, Japan has lost", I thought.

After that, I was ordered to go elsewhere

and was separated from Miyabe.

This time, I was sent to Kanoya Airbase in Kyuushu.

As a guard for the Special Attack Units, I had to guide them near to the enemy carrier.

And in that place,

I met him again.

However,

this Miyabe was no longer the Miyabe I had known.

Instructor Miyabe!

Teranishi! Yamada! Kagawa!

How have you been doing?

You seem to be in good spirits.

Mom...

That is...

The Special Attack Unit.

The guys who went today,

were my students.

Such scenes...

are what I see daily.

What do you think can those guys achieve in that state?

The enemy aircrafts have became far superior to the Zero fighter.

The anti-aircraft artillery is getting stronger day by day.

Today again,

most of the planes did not even manage to get near the carriers.

All these guys...

were not meant to die like this.

For the sake of Japan after the war

they ought to have lived on.

But even so,

I cannot do anything.

Under such circumstances,

I think it can't be helped.

Don't say such things so easily!

How many, how many of them do you think have died?

The duty of the guard planes is to protect the Special Attack Units!

We have to be their shields! Our duty is to protect them!

But nevertheless...

But nevertheless, I ran away!

I left them alone to die!

I prolonged my life by sacrificing theirs.

Their death allowed me to continue living.

What should I do?

What should I do...

What should I do...

What should I do...

Is that the reason why Grandfather agreed to be a Special Attack Force?

I don't know.

It was as if Miyabe had one foot in the grave that day.

That's the aura he was emitting.

He no longer resembled a human of this world.

Around that point in time, even us senior pilots

were expected to volunteer for the Special Attack Unit.

But I was adamant not to volunteer.

I thought that dying in such an action is a useless death.

And one day,

I saw Miyabe's name on the Special Attack Force list.

What is going on?

Why are you on the Special Attack Force list?

Why did you volunteer!

You!!

Do you criticize the decisions of your superiors?

Say it!

Tell them, "Don't make a senior pilot like me die in vain!"

You saw how the Special Attack raid is like!

Tell them!

Tell them that most pilots do not even make it in the near of the carrier!

Tell them that most of them die in vain!

It's fine, Kageura.

It's fine.

At that moment, I made a vow in my heart.

I will protect Miyabe till the end no matter what happens!

I will not let any of the enemies' bullets pierce him!

I will shoot down every enemy who tries to take Miyabe down!

Even if I am out of bullets, I will use my plane to bring them down!

But,

in the end, I lost him out of sight.

The day Miyabe's plane went off to battle,

in the skies 100 miles away from the enemy carriers

the enemies laid in ambush and the battle turned chaotic.

At that time, my plane's engine started to make trouble.

I saw Miyabe leaving the air zone.

I chased after Miyabe.

I thought I would follow him no matter what,

but I was not able to catch up to him.

Miyabe's plane suddenly disappeared from my sight.

There was another strange happening.

On the day of attack, Miyabe was not using his usual 52 model

but the old 21 model instead.

Just before taking off, he had changed planes with another pilot.

Why did he do that?

I have no idea.

Miyabe was very insistent on going with the 21 model.

Maybe he wanted to go with the familiar model

that he had used before in the Pearl Harbor attack.

But this story has an unexpected and tragic end.

The 52 model that Miyabe changed from had an engine failure.

The pilot was not able to reach the enemy

and made an emergency landing in Kikaijima.

Don't tell me...

The person on that plane... survived?

Yes.

A little later, Okinawa fell.

Till the end of the war there were almost no more Special Attack raids.

How can that be?

If Grandfather had not changed his plane, he would have survived.

That we don't know!

But the probability is high.

Doesn't that mean Grandfather himself threw away his last chance of survival,

even if it was a mere coincidence?

How could that happen?

I wish I could have met Grandfather and talked to him.

At that time,

on the day of the attack,

the eyes he had after changing to the 21 model

were not the eyes of someone who had made his peace with dying.

The look in his eyes was as if he were finally going back to his family.

Do you wish to know who was that person who survived?

If he is still alive, I would like to meet him.

I want to ask him about the last moments.

This is the list.

Thank you.

It is not something you should thank me for.

This is the end of my story.

Take the young man home.

It's okay, my sister is coming to pick me up.

I see.

Yes.

Well, I like young people.

What the hell is that kid doing?

Hey, you are getting drenched to the skin! What are you doing?

What happened?

It's Grandpa.

It is Grandpa!

The pilot on the 52 model that made an emergency landing is our Grandpa!

What? What do you mean?

[Ooishi Kenichiro]

I thought someday I had to tell you about this.

Matsuno said, "There is no need to tell it to the kids",

but I wanted to talk about this story.

Finally, the time has come.

Come.

The place I met Miyabe-san was at Tsukuba Airbase.

At that time, the person who protected Miyabe Kyuuzou with his life,

was you, wasn't it, Grandpa?

That person had protected Ito's reputation.

At that time, I decided to protect him if anything were to happen,

even if I had to sacrifice myself.

[Navy Hospital]

That's all I can give you now.

My wife amended this by hand.

I cannot accept such a precious gift!

It's fine.

I want you to have it.

She's called Kiyoko, written with the kanji for Pure and Child.

Kiyoko-san is indeed a beauty.

Ah, you got it wrong. My wife's name is Matsuno.

Kiyoko is the baby.

This child was born after the Pearl Harbor attack.

For the sake of this child, I do not wish to die.

How about you, Ooishi-kun? What would you like to do after the war ends?

I wonder.

Is it so hard to imagine that?

What is it?

- No... - Please tell me!

- It's nothing... - What is it?

If I survive the war,

I would like to do something dedicated to helping people.

That's all I know so far.

It will be great when that day comes, won't it?

Instructor Miyabe!

Teranishi! Yamada! Kagawa!

How have you been doing?

You seem to be in good spirits!

Instructor Miyabe?

Ooishi-kun...

You've recovered?

Yes, thanks for your concern.

That's good.

No...

It may be not so good.

Believe in our sacred land, live for eternal justice!

To your success!

Dismiss!

Roger!

At dawn tomorrow, these men will be the Special Attack Unit

and attack the enemy fleet at Okinawa.

That's all.

Salute.

At ease.

[Ooishi Kenichiro]

Ooishi...

It's alright.

Teranishi and Yamada went too.

I am prepared for the worst.

Instead, look.

[Miyabe Kyuuzou]

What is going on?

Nice, isn't it?

It looks relaxing.

This is weird.

The water is cold.

The weeds are swaying with the wind.

All these small things that did not matter to me before have become so endearing now.

Until today, I have never seriously thought about my family and Japan's future.

Neither have I thought about my own death.

I hope our country will still go on even if we are gone.

I wonder how the children living now and their children later

will be talking about this war.

I keep on thinking about such stuff.

I wonder what kind of country Japan will be then.

Each of you, be confident that you will hit the target.

To your success.

Lieutenant Ooishi, I have a favor to ask of you.

Please change planes with me.

Aren't you using the 52 model?

Why are you so obsessed with taking the older 21 model?

The 21 model is the model that I first rode on.

If I have to go, I would like to be with this model.

But...

This is my last wish. Will you grant it?

Damn it! Damn it!

I don't want to!

Miyabe-san!

Miyabe-san!

Miyabe-san did not return.

And I am here.

That was just...

Grandfather's fate.

No.

That's wrong!

In order to tell her this,

I searched for Matsuno immediately after the war had ended.

But...

Yokohama, where Miyabe-san had lived, was burnt down by the air raids.

There was no one who knew where Matsuno and all her neighbors had gone.

I contacted a friend working in the Ministry of Health and Welfare

and finally found their whereabouts.

But that was 2 years after the war.

Matsuno was living in a barrack in Osaka.

She had to raise Kiyoko as a single mother and was leading a hard life.

Definitely...

I will come back.

Liar.

Dear...

Excuse me.

I am Ooishi Kenichiro.

Your husband took good care of me during the war.

I am Miyabe's wife. Miyabe has been in your good care.

No.

The person who was in good care was me.

It's a heart wrenching memory.

Seeing the two persons Miyabe-san was desperately trying to protect

living such a miserable life was painful.

I told Matsuno about the changing of planes with Miyabe-san

and why this let me alone survive the war.

I had prepared myself for the worst.

I am sorry.

It was all my fault.

This was his fate.

It is not your fault.

That's not true!

I don't believe it's a mere coincidence that he changed the 52 model with me.

When I made the emergency landing on Kikaijima,

I found in the cockpit

this photo and memo.

I think when Miyabe-san got on the 52 model, he noticed the fault in the engine.

And on top of that, he left me this photo and memo.

In case Lieutenant Ooishi survives this war, I have a request.

If my family is in difficulties and suffering,

please help them.

Why?

Forgive me! I am the one who should have died.

Please leave.

I beg of you, please leave.

Since then, I tried to do whatever I could for them.

When I had time, I would travel there.

Kiyoko-chan, take this to buy some juice.

Juice?

Can I?

No, you can't.

Please do not bother yourself with us.

I will not be able to face Miyabe-san.

Please take this.

Even if it is very little.

I can't, Ooishi-san.

I cannot accept this.

It's so cold.

Uncle!

Whenever I got my salary, I made my way to Osaka.

Matsuno would not accept it.

But I went again and again.

Because I felt it was my duty to do so.

For you.

Thank you!

Come here!

All of them are blooming!

Can you reach it?

- I can't reach it. - You can't reach it?

Here you go. Can you reach it now?

- I can't touch it. - You can't touch it?

Here you go!

Are you okay? Please take it.

I'm all wet!

Wait, you've got to dry yourself!

Come here!

Come on! Come here!

- I don't wanna! - Come here!

Come on, you will catch a cold!

- Did you have fun? - Yeah.

- Once more! Once more! - Once more?

Ready...

Why are you being so nice to us?

Because Miyabe-san saved my life.

Even so, there is no need to sacrifice your own life.

You have done more than necessary to pay him back.

I can't be relying on you any longer.

No, that's not it.

You got me wrong.

In the beginning, it was a sense of duty.

But gradually, coming here became a joy to me.

Being able to support both of you in little ways became an encouragement for my own life.

No, I will be straight.

I fell in love the first time I met you.

I am a disgusting man.

Please do not go.

I understand it now.

That man

kept his promise.

He told me.

"Even if I die,"

"I will still come back."

"Once I am reborn,"

"I will return to you and Kiyoko."

You are here with me now.

Miyabe has

kept his promise.

He wanted to come back no matter what.

So why?

I cannot put it in clear words.

There are no words to express it.

But there's one thing that I think is clear.

He was not afraid of death.

He was afraid of hurting Matsuno's and your life.

He knew he couldn't live forever,

but he didn't want his death to be useless.

That's why he decided for this continuation.

And so we both got married.

Miyabe-san was never mentioned between us,

but none of us ever forgot about him.

I had not expected that Grandpa and Grandma had such a life-story.

We are nothing special.

In that era, everyone had such a story.

Everyone hid their story in their heart and lived on as if nothing had happened.

This is what it means to survive the war.

In another 10 years,

our generation will have ceased to exist.

I am glad that I was able to tell you this story.

There was another mysterious happening.

I want to tell you everything frankly.

Right after the war, I was tricked

and ended up as the mistress of a yakuza.

The reason why I got out of it,

was that some guy put his life on the line to save me.

He came running with a blood-stained sword.

He threw a wallet at me and said to me, "Live on!"

It seemed as if Miyabe had come to my rescue.

Who was that man?

That's all I know.

I took Kiyoko and fled to this place.

I have no idea who he was and where he came from.

I should have come earlier.

It was wrong to have left you alone.

I should have found you faster.

Who might that person have been,

Matsuno?

When that time comes,

I wonder what kind of country Japan will be then.

In order to return to my wife and daughter I can't die.

To survive and return is of utmost importance to me.

It will be great when that day comes.

Izaki, do you still not get it?

Tolerate the intolerable, bear the unbearable,

for the sake of eternity.

Show me some spirit!

Miyabe.

Miyabe.

Are you leaving me behind, Miyabe?

We will loyally protect our nation.

Miyabe!

Miyabe-san.

Please forgive me.

He was the No. 1 coward in the Navy Air Service.

Why did Miyabe chose to be in the Special Attack Unit?

He should have been the one to survive.

This is what it means to survive the war.

In my era, that was the same as saying, "I love them".

That man kept his promise.