My Experience with the Fourth Corps of Taiwan
My Experience with the Fourth Corps of Taiwan
Name: Asatoshi Kamida (05嘉味田朝俊)
Age at the time: 18 years old (born December 1926).
Status at the time: Conscripted into Taiwan Corps (Taiwan Army of Japan)
[Stabbing People for Training]
Training was very harsh. It was the day when we were almost finished with training for non-commissioned officer candidates. We were ordered to line up. We had no idea what we were supposed to do, but I saw a large male person who was larger than me, perhaps an Indonesian, and also a small female; and they both had their hands tied up in a way that made their hands pull together. We were made to line up in front of those people. As I was wondering what was going to happen, the superior officer said, "Do what you have been taught with your bayonet training." I was very stunned, thinking it cannot be. She was a very pretty woman perhaps in her thirties. The man was also young, and I thought to myself, "Why are we doing this?" As I was thinking this way, my name was called first, nonetheless I was wondering what I was supposed to do. I was ordered to first stab the man with my bayonet. Even though I was shaking, I was ordered to "charge," but because I was still fiddling I was hit on my head, then I started running. The thought of bayonet drill was not on my mind. I tore his stomach but he must have had strength in reserve because he held onto the bayonet and did not let go. I pulled it out with all my might and returned to my position, but I was ordered to "Do it again." I rushed in but I was not even sure if I stabbed him. I could not sleep for nights after that. The man was looking at his wife and staring at us. Blood was gushing out of him as well. It was the very first time I did anything like that, and when I saw the couple they reminded me of my parents back home because they were of about the same age and I really felt for them. I could not sleep even after I returned home. I remember what happened that day, how I did what I did while shaking and therefore I really quite intensely hate war. When I recall that time, I do not remember how many soldiers stabbed them but they were stabbed until the blood trickled down. A hole was dug for the dead, but I could not turn around to look after I stabbed him. I still often wonder why those people had to meet such a fate that day.
Name: Asatoshi Kamida (05嘉味田朝俊)
Age at the time: 18 years old (born December 1926).
Status at the time: Conscripted into Taiwan Corps (Taiwan Army of Japan)
[Stabbing People for Training]
Training was very harsh. It was the day when we were almost finished with training for non-commissioned officer candidates. We were ordered to line up. We had no idea what we were supposed to do, but I saw a large male person who was larger than me, perhaps an Indonesian, and also a small female; and they both had their hands tied up in a way that made their hands pull together. We were made to line up in front of those people. As I was wondering what was going to happen, the superior officer said, "Do what you have been taught with your bayonet training." I was very stunned, thinking it cannot be. She was a very pretty woman perhaps in her thirties. The man was also young, and I thought to myself, "Why are we doing this?" As I was thinking this way, my name was called first, nonetheless I was wondering what I was supposed to do. I was ordered to first stab the man with my bayonet. Even though I was shaking, I was ordered to "charge," but because I was still fiddling I was hit on my head, then I started running. The thought of bayonet drill was not on my mind. I tore his stomach but he must have had strength in reserve because he held onto the bayonet and did not let go. I pulled it out with all my might and returned to my position, but I was ordered to "Do it again." I rushed in but I was not even sure if I stabbed him. I could not sleep for nights after that. The man was looking at his wife and staring at us. Blood was gushing out of him as well. It was the very first time I did anything like that, and when I saw the couple they reminded me of my parents back home because they were of about the same age and I really felt for them. I could not sleep even after I returned home. I remember what happened that day, how I did what I did while shaking and therefore I really quite intensely hate war. When I recall that time, I do not remember how many soldiers stabbed them but they were stabbed until the blood trickled down. A hole was dug for the dead, but I could not turn around to look after I stabbed him. I still often wonder why those people had to meet such a fate that day.
