This Man Escaped Death as a Kamikaze Pilot in 1945

Hisashi Tezuka’s journey as a kamikaze pilot began in the tumultuous final days of World War II, when Japan was desperately seeking young men to fill its dwindling ranks.

As a university student exempt from military service, Tezuka’s fate changed when he was summoned to a meeting where he and his peers were presented with a form that offered three options: “I passionately wish to join,” “I wish to join,” and “I don’t wish to join.”

In a moment of honesty and defiance against the pressure surrounding him, Tezuka crossed out the second option and boldly wrote, “I will join,” a decision that marked him for what was presumed to be certain death.

With only five days granted to say goodbye to his family, Tezuka grappled with the weight of his impending fate, unable to share the truth of his situation with his parents.

He understood the grim reality of being a kamikaze pilot: once you took off, there was no turning back.

Just as he was preparing for his final mission, fate intervened dramatically.

On that fateful day, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender over the radio while Tezuka was on a train headed for his deployment.

The news struck him like lightning; he had been all set to die, but now he found himself alive, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

This unexpected reprieve allowed him to escape death and reflect on the lives lost around him—many of whom were young men like himself, caught in a cycle of duty and sacrifice.

At 93 years old, Tezuka now shares his story with a mix of gratitude and sorrow, having lived far longer than many of his fellow pilots who never returned.

His experiences reveal the complexities of wartime decisions and the heavy burdens carried by those labeled as kamikaze pilots.

Tezuka’s survival is not just a personal victory; it serves as a poignant reminder of how chance can alter destinies in profound ways, illustrating the fragile line between life and death during one of history’s most harrowing conflicts.