The Japanese Soldier Who Fought On 29 Years After WWII Ended!
Many bizarre events and stories came out of the Second World War. Some are known, and some not, but the story of Hiroo Onoda is one of the most incredible. Onoda was a Japanese soldier and officer who was sent to the island of Lubang in the Phillipines on December 26th, 1944. He and his small unit were ordered to disrupt the American advance by all means. Of special importance were the airfield and pier, which were to be destroyed.
Onoda’s force dwindled due to individuals dying or surrendering to local forces. Only he and three enlisted men remained. He directed that they would take to the hills and jungle, and fight on, certain Japanese forces would return. Not long after, the atomic bombs in August of 1945 brought about the surrender of the Empire of Japan.
Having no official information that WWII had concluded, Onoda and his men continued their campaign. They conducted guerrilla activities, intimidated local villagers, and had shootouts with local Filipino authorities. They reportedly killed 30 Filipinos in the area. Despite finding leaflets announcing the end of the war as early as October of 1945, the men were convinced this propaganda was meant to deceive them. Even later leaflets, from the Japanese Army’s General commanding the area, did not convince them the war was over.
As time went by, one of the 4 men walked away (September 1949). Now more efforts were made to get Onoda’s party to come out. They did not. One man was killed by a local police search party in 1954. Onoda’s last companion was shot dead in 1972. Hiroo Onoda carried on alone until February 20th, 1974. He was found by a young Japanese man searching for 3 things. He wanted to find a panda, Lt. Onoda, and the Yeti!
Norio Suzuki tried to convince Onoda to return to Japan. Onoda said no, not until his commanding officer told him to. Suzuki returned to Japan, finding Major Taniguchi, now the owner of a book store. Taniguchi went to Lubang Island with Suzuki, and on March 9th, 1974, issued the order to cease all combat activity and relieved him of duty.
Onoda returned to Japan as a hero, and a world he didn’t recognize. He had held out for 29 years after the war ended. Imagine the shock when he found out about the details of the war, the atomic bombs, jet planes, TV, and the rapid changes he missed in almost 3 decades. He wrote and autobiography with a ghostwriter, and did not like any attention. He is reported to have refused a large sum from the Japanese government in back pay. He was also pardoned by the President of the Phillippines (Ferdinand Marcos) for the activities he and his unit conducted in Lubang.
Onoda died in 2014 at the age of 91. A recent movie of his story, Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle (2021) is excellent. A highly rated movie, it is gives a good idea of his amazing life. The film is currently available on Prime Video.
As a footnote, there were numerous Japanese soldiers who, not knowing the war ended, carried on with their duties. One, actually held out longer then Lt. Onoda. Private Teruo Nakamura, in Indonesia, went on until December 18th, 1974. A full 30+ years after the end of the Second World War.
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