Kamikaze
   Images

Links

The following sites and web pages are the most significant sources of Internet information about Japan's kamikaze corps and other special attack forces.

The Japanese web site Kamikaze has the most popular message board, which has postings in both English and Japanese.

English

• Stories of Bereaved Families - My translations of stories about families with relatives in the kamikaze corps who died during World War II.
• Kamikaze - Translated pages on Japanese site. Provides good introduction to topic. Has several letters written by kamikaze pilots. Translations contain minor errors, but easily understood.
• Who Became Kamikaze Pilots and How Did They Feel Towards Their Suicide Mission? - Published in The Concord Review, journal that publishes essays written by high school students on history topics. Winner of Emerson Prize. Insightful analysis based on letters and diaries written by kamikaze pilots. One appendix outlines research method followed to prepare this essay.
• Kaiten Special Attack Corps - Gives detailed record, with numerous historical photos, related to Japanese Navy's use of kaiten human torpedo. Has acceptable English translations from pages originally published in Japanese.
• Kamikaze by Yasuo Kuwahara and Gordon Allred - Includes article that analyzes ten significant historical discrepancies in the book.
• Wings of Defeat - Documentary completed in 2007 by Risa Morimoto about four surviving kamikaze pilots. More information related to film on this web site.
• USS Evans DD552 - Destroyer that shot down 15 kamikaze planes but got hit by three others on May 11, 1945.
• Day of the Kamikaze - November 25, 1944 - Historical background and the views of six American veterans of mass kamikaze attack that resulted in hits to four U.S. carriers.

Japanese

• 神風 Kamikaze - Best feature is very active message board. Good introduction to topic. Many pages translated to English.
• 蒼空の果てに Aozora no hateni (To the blue sky's end) - Huge site by former Japanese Navy kamikaze pilot. Many stories on site come from his four books related to kamikaze corps.
• 殉国の碑 Junkoku no ishibumi (War monuments) - Invaluable reference source on specialized topic. Contains tremendous amount of information, including photos and related history of monuments specifically dedicated to special attack forces. Much information not contained elsewhere on Internet.
• 回天特攻隊 Kaiten Tokkoutai (Kaiten Special Attack Corps) - Gives detailed record, with numerous historical photos, related to Japanese Navy's use of kaiten human torpedo.
• 特攻 Tokkou (Special Attack Forces) - Nicely-designed web site includes sections on letters and poems written by members of special attack forces, excerpts from the association's quarterly magazine Tokkou, paintings of different types of special attack weapons, photos and paintings of planes used in kamikaze attacks, pieces written by bereaved family members and association members, and information about the Tokkotai Commemoration Peace Memorial Association.
• 知覧スピーチコンテスト Chiran Speech Contest - Chiran Town publishes winning speeches from prior years' annual speech contests. Speeches cover topics related to preciousness of life and importance of peace. During World War II, Chiran served as primary Japanese Army sortie base for kamikaze pilots.
• 予科練資料館 Yokaren Shiryoukan (Yokaren Museum) - Features exhibits of museum in Oita City. Includes information about the Yokaren (Naval Flight Training Program), wartime experiences, and kamikaze operations. Has several last letters of kamikaze pilots.

Updated March 23, 2008