零式戦闘機 Zero Fighters

零式戦闘機

先日、零式戦闘機についてのNHKテレビ番組を見た。零戦が地上の兵隊に最後の別れを告げ、滑走路を飛び立っていく光景は悲しくて見ておれなかった。

　神風特攻隊は、米空母に突入する瞬間に何を思ったのであろう。何も考えず、ただ目標に首尾よく突入することだけを切に祈ったのであろう。しかし残念ながら、ほとんどの戦闘機は空母から数メートル離れた海中に撃墜された。なんと悲惨なことか。4500人の特攻隊員の命が虚しく犠牲になった。
　今日、日本は繁栄し、日本人は未だかってないほどの贅沢と豊かさを享受している。日本の今日の平和は、祖国のために戦った特攻隊員や多くの兵士の犠牲の上に成り立っている。時々心を引き締めるために彼らのことに思いをはせなければならない。

Zero Fighters                                    

 

I watched an NHK TV program featuring Zero fighters the other day. It was unbearably sad to watch them run a runway and fly up in the air bidding farewell to the soldiers on land.

 

Farewell my fellow soldiers.

Farewell Dad and Mom.

Farewell.

Thank you for raising me.

I am ready.

I won’t look back.

I won’t come back.

 

What did Kamikaze pilots think at the very moment of their suicide attack against US aircraft carriers? They couldn’t think of anything at all. They just prayed hard so that their fighters would not miss the targets.

 

There down below

I see aircraft carriers

Now,

Now is the time

To destroy them

And to kill myself

My Zero fighter

Let me strike them

Without fail!

 

Alas, however, most of them nosedived into the sea away from the carriers. How miserable! And how sad! As many as 4500 Kamikaze pilots sacrificed their lives, in vain.

 

Today Japan has become one of

the most prosperous countries in the world.

The Japanese are enjoying

unprecedented luxury and affluence.

Japan’s present peace owes much

to Kamikaze pilots and

all the other soldiers

who fought for their homeland.

I must sometimes remember them

to console their spirits.

May your souls rest in peace.

May peace prevail upon us all.