Any WW2 Japanese Soldiers memoirs?

[Shooter5]

I am aware of German and Russian soldiers who have had their books published as well as some Japanese aviators who have published. I would like to know if any infantry, army or navy, ever published and have their works been translated into English?

[5MadFarmers]

Likely not any from the real interesting places. They kind of all pretty much died. A fight to the last man leaves very few people to write their memoirs. Most of the Japanese POWs were in fact Korean laborers. In fact I think those "Japanese Soldiers" captured at Normandy were. Forced into service of Japan and captured by the Russians. Forced into service by the Russians and captured by the Germans. Forced into service of the Germans and captured at Normandy.

That'd be a story.

[Sully]

My brother in law who is an excellent judge of WW2 reading material recommended this book, below, which I have yet to read. Bet it is excellent, when I get a chance to do so.

From Amazon; it is getting reprinted.
Japanese Destroyer Captain: Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Midway-The Great Naval Battles as Seen Through Japanese Eyes by Capt. Tameichi Hara, Fred Saito and Roger Pineau (Paperback - Aug 15, 2011)
Buy new: $21.95 $13.90

best,

Sully

[Rick the Librarian]

Hara's book is excellent. Also Saburo Sakai's Samurai. He was the leading surviving Japanese ace with 64 kills.

I believe that one or two of the "holdouts" (stayed hidden after the end of the war) also wrote memoirs.

[John Sukey]

Excep the for the time he decided to attack a flight of hellcats from below and behind only to find they were TBM's. The belly gunners couldn't believe their luck.

[pmclaine]

I believe the title is "Never Surrender". The story of the Japanese soldier that came out of the PI jungles in 71-72 or so. I have a signed copy in my attic somewhere.

[DAVEB47]

Likely not any from the real interesting places. They kind of all pretty much died. A fight to the last man leaves very few people to write their memoirs. Most of the Japanese POWs were in fact Korean laborers. In fact I think those "Japanese Soldiers" captured at Normandy were. Forced into service of Japan and captured by the Russians. Forced into service by the Russians and captured by the Germans. Forced into service of the Germans and captured at Normandy.

That'd be a story.

I wonder what hostilities were occuring between Japan and Russia that these men were captured. I know the Russians scooped in to get some territory in 1945, but was unaware of any fighting before then.

[mhb]

was Lt. Hiroo Onoda. The book is 'No Surrender'. Good book.
mhb - Mike

[dave]

I read a book about a survivor of the battleship Yamamoto (sp?) when it sailed out to Okinawa and was sunk by Navy planes. Rather limited to that one one sided battle, by a junior officer as I remember. No, I do not remember title.

[George Lingo]

I wonder what hostilities were occuring between Japan and Russia that these men were captured. I know the Russians scooped in to get some territory in 1945, but was unaware of any fighting before then.

The Russians fought 2 border wars with the Japanese in 1939-1940 in Manchuria I believe.The Japanese took a beating in both of these border wars.Little has ever been written about them.The Russian commander in the border wars was Zuhkoff.