Masashi Itō

Masashi Itō (伊藤 正, 1921–2004) was a machine-gunner[1] and sergeant in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War. He was among the last hold-outs to surrender after the war ended.

War years and post-war survival

When the Americans liberated Guam in July 1944, Masashi was separated from his unit.[1] He hid with two other soldiers and learned to survive in the jungle.[1] For sixteen years, he hid even after finding leaflets declaring that the war had ended.[2]

Surrender

When the last of his companions, Bunzō Minagawa (皆川文蔵), was captured by woodsmen in 1960, Masashi was convinced to surrender on 23 May 1960 and was treated at a nearby American military base.[1][3]

Later life

Masashi married on January 7, 1961,[2] and had a daughter. A movie was made about his life. He later worked as a watchman for the Toei Motion Picture Company in Tokyo.[2] He wrote a book about his experiences entitled The Emperor's Last Soldiers, published in 1967.

References
  1. "Books: Straggler's Ordeal". Time Magazine. July 14, 1967.
  2. Kahn, E. J. (March 24, 1962). "II-The Stragglers:: Oh What a Miserable Life This Is!". The New Yorker. p. 47.
  3. Trefalt, Beatrice. Japanese Army stragglers and memories of the war in Japan, 1950–1975.
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