Kazuo Odachi the Kamikaze Who Survived and His Remarkable Story

In the final stages of World War II, Japan employed kamikaze tactics, directing pilots to crash their aircraft into enemy targets in a desperate attempt to slow the Allied advance. Over 3,800 Japanese pilots perished in these missions. Among the few who survived was Kazuo Odachi, a teenage naval aviator whose experiences offer a unique perspective on this period.

Early Aspirations and Training

Born in a village near Tokyo, Odachi developed an early fascination with aviation, often watching planes at Tokorozawa Air Base. At 16, he joined the Imperial Japanese Navy’s rigorous training program, where only one in eighty applicants succeeded. By 1944, he was piloting the A6M Zero fighter, assigned to the 221st Naval Air Group in Taiwan. His initial missions involved escorting supply ships, but he soon witnessed the emergence of kamikaze attacks during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Combat Missions and Close Calls

In early 1945, as American forces advanced through the Philippines, Odachi’s base at Clark Field came under heavy bombardment. After seeking refuge in nearby mountains, he was evacuated to Taiwan. On April 4, 1945, Odachi embarked on his first kamikaze mission, aiming to strike Allied aircraft carriers. Intercepted by American fighters, he was forced to jettison his bomb and return. Subsequent missions were similarly thwarted by weather, mechanical issues, or enemy interception, preventing him from completing any attacks.

War’s End and Personal Loss

On August 15, 1945, as Odachi prepared for another mission targeting American supply ships near Okinawa, a ground crew member halted the operation. News arrived that Emperor Hirohito had announced Japan’s surrender. Returning home, Odachi was the sole survivor among his close friends from training; Kinzu Kosuya and Hiroshi Toyota had both died in combat earlier that year.

Postwar Life and Reflection

After the war, Odachi became a police officer and detective, serving for over 36 years. He also dedicated himself to kendo, teaching the martial art to children for more than three decades. For years, he kept his wartime experiences private, even from his family. As time passed and societal views shifted, he began sharing his story with trusted friends. Eventually, his experiences were documented in the book “Memoirs of a Kamikaze,” co-authored with Shigeru Ohta and Hiroyoshi Nishijima, providing insight into his life and the era he lived through.