Kazuo Sakamaki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kazuo Sakamaki
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Sakamaki in U.S. custody
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| Born | November 8, 1918 Awa, Tokushima, Japan |
| Died | November 29, 1999 (aged 81) Toyota, Aichi, Japan |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Service/ |
Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Ensign |
| Commands held | HA. 19 midget submarine |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Kazuo Sakamaki (酒巻和男, Sakamaki Kazuo, November 8, 1918 – November 29, 1999) was a Japanese naval officer. He became famous for being the very first Japanese prisoner of war captured by U.S. forces during World War II. This happened during the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Kazuo Sakamaki was born in Japan in 1918. He grew up in a large family with seven brothers. In 1940, he graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy. This was a special school for future naval officers.
His Military Career
The Pearl Harbor Attack
As an Ensign, Sakamaki was chosen for a secret mission. He was one of ten sailors picked to attack Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. They were to use five small, two-person submarines. These were called Ko-hyoteki class midget submarines.
Sakamaki's submarine was named HA. 19. It got stuck on a coral reef near Waimanalo Beach in Hawaii. This happened as he tried to enter Pearl Harbor. His submarine hit several reefs and could not move.
Sakamaki told his crewmate, Kiyoshi Inagaki, to swim to shore. Sakamaki then tried to sink the submarine himself. But the explosives did not work. Sadly, Inagaki drowned while trying to reach land.
Sakamaki made it to shore but passed out. A U.S. soldier found him on the beach. He was then taken into military care. When he woke up, he was in a hospital. He was guarded by U.S. soldiers. This made him the first Japanese prisoner of war captured by the U.S. in World War II.
The Japanese military thought Sakamaki had died. They removed his name from their records. They also told his family he had been killed in action. His submarine was later recovered. It was then shown around the United States. This helped to encourage people to buy war bonds.
Sakamaki spent the rest of the war in prison camps. These camps were located in the United States. When the war ended, he returned to Japan. By then, he strongly believed in pacifism, which means he was against war.
Later Life and Legacy
After the war, Sakamaki got married and started a family. He began working for the Toyota Motor Corporation. In 1969, he became the president of Toyota's company in Brazil. He returned to Japan in 1983. He continued to work for Toyota until he retired in 1987.
For many years, Sakamaki did not talk about the war. He only wrote a book about his experiences. But in 1991, he went to a history meeting. This meeting was at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Texas. There, he saw his old submarine, HA. 19, on display. It was the first time he had seen it in 50 years. Reports say he cried when he was reunited with it.
Kazuo Sakamaki lived the rest of his life in Japan. He passed away in 1999 when he was 81 years old.
Publications
- Four Years as a Prisoner-of-War, No. 1 (Japan). This book was also published in the United States as I Attacked Pearl Harbor.
See also
In Spanish: Kazuo Sakamaki para niños
