This book was written by juniors (undergraduate students) living in peacetime who researched their Chuo University seniors who lived through war. Although Chuo University celebrates its 125th anniversary, it has, in its history, students who were drafted to the military in the Pacific War midway through their studies, and sent to the frontline. At the time, many Chuo students had their graduation advanced and went to war as students, with 122 known to have lost their lives in kamikaze units. This number is one of the larger ones for a university in the country.

"What would have happened if we were students before and during the war?"--With this question posed by current students as a motive, they began researching independently. From a drawn up list of about 200 people involved, they managed to interview approximately 50. Research results of 33 of those are recorded in the book (2 volumes). This project began in 2006 and took four years to complete. "Because it is now", and "I couldn't tell my family, but can tell you as my junior", were among the reasons for the seniors to recount their experiences for the first time. Departure of students for the front, Kamikaze units, Battle of Okinawa, Siberian labor camps, the Burmese front, the Malay front, the Aparri strategy, Olympic Strategy blockade units, the announcer who broadcast the end of the war in North China, air corps calling for total resistance, the Great Tokyo Air Raid, return from torpedoed Tsushima-maru, preparatory pilot training courses, the Naval Academy...

Although the interviewed seniors had different experiences and ideas, the one thing they had in common is that "war must never be repeated".

Volume I is due to hit bookshelves nationwide on August 10, and Volume II in early September. Published by Chuo University Publishing Office (042-674-2351), 2 volume set, 促2700 each.

<Contact>

Representative author: Hideki Kitami , 3rd year student in the Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University
Matsuno Laboratory (tel & fax: 042-674-4169, mail: matsuno@fps.chuo-u.ac.jp)