Many of the reasons for Onoda's long stay on Lubang stemmed from living in a country that had been at war for over a decade. Japan invaded China in 1931 and had been sending troops abroad through Onoda's childhood and teenage years. The Japanese society and Onoda's strict military training produced a soldier who would holdout for decades.
Top, Japanese Society, Military Training
The Asia-Pacific War started many years before America's entry into the war. During that time, Japan underwent a cultural revolution throughout which leaders promoted a pro-military lifestyle for citizens.
Onoda's training in kendo, Japanese fencing, began at the Kainan Middle School. Foreshadowing his future involvement in guerilla warfare, his favorite move was that, when his opponent brought a sword towards Onoda's forehead, Onoda would dodge and thrust at the surprised boy's chest. While kendo required restraint and reflection, Onoda also learned to be a fighter, strictly drilled in an ancient marital art at a time when the government was strongly promoting its military accomplishments. The years of instruction would be just the beginning of the regimented, militaristic lifestyle that he later would lead.
During these times of war, families might have all of their sons enlisted into the Japanese armed forces. Onoda's two older brothers were both officers in the Army through the war. They instilled in him a strong sense of duty to Japan and the need to take responsibility for their family's honor. To young Onoda, it was natural to follow his elders into such a respected profession.
Schools of the period organized children into small regiments of marchers, reinforcing the ideals of service that many received from their government and families. Youth organizations also were common and provided new life to the war workforce. (See the book Japan at War for student workers' accounts of the war.) These and other government programs continued to remind Onoda that Japan was at war and that the government would one day draft him into the fight.
The military hoped that the citizens of Japan would be united in the war effort. Onoda remembers that sayings such as "one hundred million souls dying for honor" were popular before he left for Lubang. These messages seemingly reflected the government's success at promoting the idea that no Japanese citizen would surrender or give up before Japan won the war. Some of his fellow citizens even scorned Japanese troops who were captured in battle or who surrendered to the enemy:
At that time, if a soldier who had been taken prisoner later managed to return to Japan, he was subject to a court martial and a possible death penalty. Even if the penalty was not carried out, he was so thoroughly ostracized by others that he might as well have been dead. Soldiers were supposed to give their lives for the cause, not grovel in enemy prison camps. (Onoda 33)
With this attitude and the government's ideals before them, many young soldiers ended their lives to preserve their honor. Onoda's own mother gave him an ancestor's dagger, before he left for Lubang Island, in case he had to commit suicide to avoid surrender.
Top, Japanese Society, Military Training
Hiroo Onoda was drafted into the Imperial Army in early 1944. After receiving the strict infantry training, Onoda was selected for officer training because of his intelligence and leadership potential. Specifically, superiors selected him for training in army intelligence and guerilla warfare. Onoda later said that "it was [his] pride in being an officer that sustained [him] during thirty years on Lubang" (Onoda 25).
Onoda as a young officer before he left for Lubang Island.
From August to early December of 1944, Onoda's orders stationed
him at the Futamata Branch of the Nakano Military School. Here he learned
to "acquire intelligence as it relates to military needs. You will
have to learn to notice everything around you and evaluate it from the
viewpoint of military intelligence" (Onoda 29). Instructors also
forbid the students from committing suicide in dire situations, contradicting
the teachings of the Army infantry and of Onoda's family's expectations
of him. The new instructions furthered the efforts of army intelligence:
an intelligence officer should do anything to receive information about
the enemy or to mislead the enemy. A captured soldier could give false
battle plans to enemy troops or lead rebellion attempts while a dead soldier
could no longer benefit his country or the Army.
This exhibit was researched and designed by Jennifer Bernet.
This exhibit and museum were created during an introductory seminar on the Asia-Pacific War, taught at Wake Forest University during the spring semester 2002. The material and opinions are those of the author and do not represent the views of the University or the Department of History.