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Your excellent documentary on the Kamikaze missed what may be a world changing opportunity.
History is replete with misguided leaders, and with vulnerable people who died for false causes created by those leaders. For example, Roman warriors, Crusaders, the British Red Coats in 1776, Germans in WWâs I and II, and Americans in Vietnam, died in pursuit of ideals but achieved nothing by their sacrifices. The world went on and their deaths were as pointless as were the deaths of their opponents.
If asked, virtually every Japanese who survived WW II will agree that Japan is at least as good a nation after losing as it would have been if it had won the war and continued to worship an emperor. The film indirectly shows that the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Japanese to defend (or extend) what was essentially a religious system were in vain. It shows that not only Japanese can be manipulated to die for a cause but that American veterans realize they are just as vulnerable.
Indeed, all humans are vulnerable to bad leadership. That message might be clearly presented at the conclusion of the Kamikaze film. And, the film could be made available to all people who consider sacrificing their lives for an ideal - whether they be American military in Iraq, or religious patriots like the Israeli soldiers, the Palestinian freedom fighters, 9/11 type killers, the members of al Qaida, or the would be martyrs coming out of the Madrasses of Afghanistan. Then, perhaps they will question the efforts of leaders to retain or gain power by creating false goals and pointlessly
I would like to thank you for your program about Japanese Kamikaze pilots. I was up late last night, I have to be honest I usually don't watch PBS.
I have never cried so much that I can remember. The honest look at Japanese Kamikaze pilots during WWII showed me their strength and courage to defend their country and the heroic actions from the young, brave, Japanese men. I cried and cried. Words can't express my thanks for this honest look into history.
We need to see more honesty in this country. I felt ashamed of my own country watching this show. We never consider our opponent as even human sometimes, propaganda from our own media and bias has become the norm. I suppose these Japanese Kamikaze would have been "terrorists" today, it is clear, they were defending their lives, way of life, for survival as anyone would do under circumstance.
Their history is beautiful and I will recommend this program to many people. Please, if possible share this honest opinion so others can look at our own American history of propaganda.
I don't consider myself well learned in history. I of course, am American high school educated. I was taught that we were always "right" and anyone who opposed democracy was wrong. The one thing that stood out the most to me during this program was the WWII elderly American Veterans who looked at each other saying "if they were told enough lies, they would believe them after long enough time" and the one Veteran said " it could even happen to us" but his statement being an American patriotic statement, as if it could never happen to them.
Watching, I knew, it already had.
History does repeat itself.
Thank you for your eye opening honest program.
I am now an official fan of your programming and will be watching many more of your fresh honest coverages.
These documentaries are so important in tearing down our preconceptions. I found the interivews to be very heart rending and revealing. A very fine documentary.
i've spent about half of the past 16 years in the kansai area of japan. i've married a japanese woman during that time. i think any relationship of gaijin with japan has many ups and downs. however, knowing the culture made this a moving experience for me. i'm canadian, but was often mistaken for an american in japan. there is, i think, surprisingly little malice towards the u.s. the only times i was really accosted were by middle aged or older men who had had a bit too much to drink and that only happened a few times. it's very hard to change pre-conceptions--witness the fuss in the u.s. in the not very distant past when it was suggested by a smithsonian display that, perhaps, the nuclear bombings of hiroshima&nagasaki weren't necessary (eisenhower didn't think so). i've visited hiroshima three times and nagasaki once. anybody who suggests nuclear bombs as an instument of war should be locked up and have the key thrown away.....and those were just baby bombs.
As an honorablely discharged veteran of the US Army and a student of history whose father served in WWII in Europe, I found "Wings of Defeat" to be a beautiful film. All my life, among other historical subjects, I have read many books about the Pacific and have all ways felt sad that the Japanese people, who have risen to such a state after the war, wasted so many lives and so much of their culture on a stupid war. It was very sad and very human to see that the Japanese wanted their children to live rather than die during a war and that the Japanese love their children as much as any other people on the earth. The pilots who survived should not be sad nor feel any guilt about surviving but should feel proud that they have shared their stories to teach the world that we are all human.
Seeing the archieval footage was a facinating experience. To think that the faces I was seeing were all dead because some insane leaders adhereing to a rediculous code sent them to their deaths rather than face defeat. To think that the "divine" emperor would destroy his country and his people for a stupid code is all most beyoud belief. I could continue about what I saw but that would take a book. Thanks for the beautiful film.
Even though I did not see the entire program, I deeply appreciated the perspective from the Kamikaze pilots. However, I do have one query and I don't know if this was mentioned in the film but as I was researching the origins of crystal meth, I read that it came from the Japanese who used it for their Kamikaze pilots to help them complete their mission. Please correct me if this informatiion is false.
This film was well-made. There are several clips that I have never seen before. Good work. I like the pilot's comments "that Emperor, that Emperor who did not want to end the war"....
I have read and studied many various subjects regarding WW2 with a focus on the air conflict since I had relatives fight on both sides, the RAF (Czech Squadron 310) and the Luftwaffe. Up to now the Japanese Kamikaze has always, to me seemed a more removed personage, I think this is largely due to the Japanese cultural stereotype that your documentary certainly addressed. It is commendable that you have succeeded in capturing the humanity in the Japanese culture for all that choose to see it, well done.
J.Pospisil
I recalled my japanese mother telling stories of hearing and surviving the drones of B-29 bombers as a child. I have also heard the alleged target for the second bomb was Kokura, Kyushu instead of Nagasaki, Kyushu due to it being an ammunition depot as opposed to shipbuilding. The story went that bombers had poor visibility due to clouds for Kokura, thus the alternate bombimg site of Nagasaki.
It was also refreshing that american survivors told a more truthful respect of the Kamikaze pilots as they would have done the same if instructed to protect america. War is hell, make no mistake about it. This was a well told story of both sides. Hopefully, we don't see WWIII.
I saw this today, the opportunity to hear and see the faces of the Japanese Veterans was heart wrenching, but eyeopening. Today I am glad I lived long enough to see this. Thank you and everyone who put so much effort into this accounting of the Japanese humanity.
What you have produced should be part of the education of every person who breathes. The horror of war, from the loosing perspective is astonishing.
I am a Korean-American whose parents were subjected to the Japanese occupation and attempt to erase the Korean culture. This film reminded me wars are started and progressed by the brokenness of history and leaders and everyone under them are all victims. I wept again at the unnecessary loss of many lives due to pride...This is an important film and it was good for me to see this film. I wonder if my parents' generation would find some healing in this film that truly humanizes the oppressors...
I only caught the last half of this documentary, but I couldn't take my eyes off. Hoping very much to be able to see it again. Well done.
Please fix the captions on Wings of Defeat. They are impossible to read and flash too quickly. It absolutely ruined the video that I was unable to read the captions.
Can this show be purchased on DVD?
Editors note:
Home and educational DVD copies of WINGS OF DEFEAT are available from:
I was so moved by the film. I,too, have believed the stereotypes of the Kamikaze pilots as fanatics wanting to die. The film showed the humanity of these young people forced into this role and the true devastation of war. My parents lived in through the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. I always heard about the fear they lived through. The film has helped show many perspectives in a respectful and nonjudgemental way leaving the viewers to draw their own conclusions. Thank you for airing the film on PBS.
I was totally mesmerized! I only THOUGHT I knew enough about the Kamikazi pilots to hold a conversation!
I've never been disappointed with Independent Lens, but this was truly exceptional!
