Of the 3.1 million people who died in the Pacific War (not including non-combatants),

"70%" were not killed in action, but died of disease (malaria, etc.).

I was quite shocked when I learned this.

When I told this story to my wife, she was surprised as well.

Most Japanese soldiers died because they were not even allowed to fight.

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I have been doing my own research on the Japanese military during the Pacific War.

And the more I looked into it, the more I came to one certainty.

"If I replaced all the Japanese people of today with all the Japanese people of then, we would do the same thing."

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I am not condemning the Japanese as a people.

I am condemning myself -- not self-criticism, but self-condemnation.

It is because, at my age, I have come to understand that I, as a mere member of society, who does not have my life in danger, am a person who

"looks to my superiors,"

"makes discoveries,"

"turns a blind eye to unreasonableness and irrationality in the workplace," and

"does not lend a helping hand to those in need.

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And if I were placed in a situation where the state, in a system of war, suppressed speech, controlled thought, and subdued public opinion by force -

I could be sure that I would be the one to write the "Banzai for the Great Patriotic Party" column.

And, what's worse, I will write "in the groove" instead of "reluctantly" -- using numbers all over the place.

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I have said this many times before, and I will repeat it.

I am not a person who stands on the side of justice.

I am a person who stands on the side of my self-preservation.

I don't want you to expect anything from me.

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Junior: "Mr. Ebata, can you tolerate this kind of behavior?"

Ebata: "What are you talking about? I'm just a 'company dog.'"

Every year, as August 15 approaches, I recall this exchange with a junior as I watch the NHK special.

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In addition to this, this year also brings to mind the Bataan Death March.

I cannot stay outdoors this summer, even for just two minutes.

When I go outdoors, I feel my body burning.

I wonder if someone does the 'walk 83 km over three days, with little water and food, with a corona infection, at noon this summer' experiment -- well, they won't.

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Anyway, I still tell myself, 'Even if I have to die without knowing why, I deserved it on someone else's orders.