No requiem
Statement of responsibility: translated by Geoffrey S. Kishimotoby
Moriya, Tadashi
; Kishimoto, Geoffrey S [translator].
Type: 
BookPublisher: [Tokyo] : Hokuseido Press, [1968]Description: xviii, 374 p. : ill., maps ; 19 x 13 cm.ISBN: (softbound).Uniform titles: Raguna-ko no kita. English.Subject(s): World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Philippines | World War, 1939-1945 -- Prisoners and prisons, JapaneseGeneral Note(s): Translation of Raguna-ko no kitaLanguage/Translation Info: EnglishSummary: This is the first book-length personal account of the war in the Philippines by a Japanese. Moriya was the battalion surgeon in his unit, and writes of their battalion’s hardships from the time he was drafted in late 1944. A sign that Japan was losing the war, Moriya had already served five years with the Japanese Army in China and had been reverted to the reserves. He was called to active service again in September 1944, made battalion surgeon of a special unit of suicide motorboats whose young men were expected to crash their boats on American ships similar to the aerial Kamikaze pilots. He writes of the fearsome convoy voyage to San Fernando, La Union, where some ships where sunk; arriving in the Philippines and being temporarily barracked at the Rizal Stadium in Manila. He describes Manila life from the perspective of an educated Japanese officer, noting inflation, shortages and dangers. The battalion was deployed to Mauban, Quezon, but when the Americans did not land there, was ordered into the mountains north of Laguna de Bay. There they faced grave shortages, malaria and dangers from air and guerrilla raids. He writes of cannibalism and other horrors faced by the Japanese soldiers who became inhuman; they had to keep moving. Of his battalion of 1,000 men, less than 50 survived. Originally published in Japan as North of Laguna Bay, this English translation incorporates more information for English readers. Despite the tragedies of war, Moriya managed to keep a sense of humor and hope, which enabled him to survive and which are echoed in this memoir, which is very personal. He strives for a balanced perspective, trying to understand Filipino and American psychology. He also writes at length about the Makapili (pro-Japanese Filipinos, who he mistakenly calls the Kalibapi – a totally different group which did not fight for Japan). The book’s title comes from the numerous dead Japanese who died without any formal burial; this book was intended to serve as their memorial. (The translator, Geoffrey S. Kishimoto, is also note worthy as he was a translator for ranking Japanese officers in the Philippines such as Gen. Kuroda; he served as interpreter for Gen. Homma during his trial for the Death March and other war crimes). (Some allowances will have to be made for the literary British English used). - Prof. Ricardo T. Jose
| Item type | Current library | Call number | Status | Barcode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Books, Monographs
|
Filipinas Heritage Library Roderick Hall Coll. | D 811 M6343 1968 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available | 14149 |
Translation of Raguna-ko no kita.
English
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