C06, Kyōko Hirota ‘87, Shizuko Hirota, Grandmother, 1908, Tōkyō, Kōchi
Q: Can you tell me about the bombing in World War II?
A: We escaped from Tōkyō to Chiba. We didn’t have any food or clothing, or anything else. I had to cut up my best kimono to make working outfits and tabi (socks).
Q: What was Grandfather doing at this time?
A: He went to Tōkyō to get food and other necessities. He wasn’t drafted into the Army as a soldier, and he didn’t want to enlist. When it was time for him to take the Army induction exam, he went back to his hometown in Tosa (Kōchi prefecture). There were many strong young fishermen, so he was put at the end of the list. His uncle was an admiral in the Navy, so the Army officials thought that he would be disappointed not to be inducted into the military. Actually, he was very happy, but had to stay quiet and hide his laughter.
Q: Wasn’t it unusual for young men not to want to go to war?
A: Yes, but there were also many men who tried to avoid being drafted. Some men drank a lot of soy sauce right before the exam, so that their heartbeat would be much faster, and they would look sick. But the Army officials knew about this, and they made these men take a hot bath. Some of them were so mean that they would force the men to run, and sometimes this killed them.
Q: Then he must have been lucky not to go to war.
A: Yes, I think so too. We were an unusual family. People wondered why we got far while others were getting thinner during the war.
Q: Why?
A: Before the war, I only did light house work. I didn’t eat when I wasn’t hungry. My grandfather drank instead of eating. Then the war began, and we lacked food, so we had to work and eat what we could.
Q: What else do you want to add?
A: This was the hardest part of my life. Your aunt had to work in a factory. I had to farm alongside peasants. Some of my best friendships were made during the war.
Q: Are there any interesting memories from the U.S. Occupation period after the war?
A: Even after the war ended, our lives didn’t change immediately. We didn’t lose anyone from our family.
Q: Were you happy when the war ended?
A: Yes and no. I didn’t want Japan to lose, but we felt that it would.