A soldier’s Diary – 日本兵の日記

 

Excerpts from the diary of Tamura Yoshikazu.

Wewak New Guinea

March 1943

When I hear birds of paradise sing, I remember cuckoos back in Japan. They  live among tropical coconut trees. I don’t know what they are saying, but they  make very weird cries that sound like “keukoh, kiou, keukoh, kiou.”

A mate of mine received a letter from home and he showed me a copy of a

newspaper dated the end of January. Nothing seemed to have changed at

home. It also contained an article about the front line in New Guinea. Who

could know that I am in New Guinea now?

The climate here is similar to that of mid-August in Japan. Yet, there are so many

noxious insects, and the mosquitoes in particular are a real nuisance. Since many of

us are sick and do not feel well, our fighting spirit seems to be low.

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May 1943

A few days ago, my friend was killed by enemy shells in this bay. However, the

bay with its white waves does not look any different. There are a few drums

floating away from boats. The landscape of the headland is as lush as before.

Boats are moored to the wharf as before. But I feel so devastated!

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April 1943

From the top of the hill with its fresh green grass

I gaze towards the ocean horizon.

Across the Pacific, across the Japan Current,

From far away, a boat is coming with might and courage

With letters from our homeland.

Sitting in the shade of a coconut tree

Looking across the sky above the ocean waves

Thinking about home from New Guinea.

With the heat, it hurts to realize

How far this place is from home.

_____________

Tamura Yoshikazu was killed in battle in March 1944 at Biliau, New Guinea.

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