L08, Mariko Kōda ‘04, Grandmother, 1929, Ōsaka
I interviewed my grandmother about the beginning of World War II, when she was only 12 years old. She lived on the outskirts of Ōsaka, so she wasn’t attacked directly. American planes bombed the center of the city in March 1945. She went to school until she was 14 years old, but she couldn’t learn English because Britain and America were the enemies. She remembered that she was not allowed to speak or use English words. For example, she had to say “tōmei-ban” instead of “glass”. When she was about 14 years old, she had to stop her lessons, and all of the students had to work to manufacture shoes and loincloths for the Japanese Army. When she entered Grade 9, she had to go to the munitions factory to make the wings of aeroplanes.
Most of her relatives were drafted into the Army, except her father, because he was too old. However, her father’s employees entered the Army, and they didn’t come back, so she thinks they were killed in the war. Her cousin went to combat. When he was fighting, a bullet went into his eye and he lost his eye, so now he has a false eye.
During World War II, she ate rice, hardtack, and potatoes. When the air raid siren was heard, she went into the shelter where people hid, called bōkūgō. She wore protection for her head. She remembered that the siren was ringing even during the night, and she was always sleepy.
On August 15, 1945 when she was 16 years old, Japan lost against the United States. She wished that Japan could have won, and she felt ashamed, but the war was all over, so she was relieved and could relax.