The Palauan Kirikomi-tai Suicide Bombers of World War II and the Siege of Babeldaob: a Reconsideration
Murray, Stephen C (2013). "The Palauan Kirikomi-tai Suicide Bombers of World War II and the Siege of Babeldaob: a Reconsideration". Pacific Asia Inquiry. 4 (1): 30–57. ISSN 2377-0929.
- Has attachment: File:8ATPQM9F.pdf
Abstract: Since World War II, Palauans have shared stories concerning their 80 young men whom the Japanese Army trained in 1944-45 to participate in suicide guerrilla raids against American forces in Palau. During interviews in the 1980s, the Japanese officers involved in this Kirikomi-tai program-including the legendary Capt. Morikawa-insisted that the Palauans were wrong to believe they were being prepared for actual military operations. Rather, their training had other purposes, such as reducing civilian unrest. Using fresh interviews with Palauans, research among both Japanese and U.S. sources, and close analysis of the officers' testimonies, this paper disputes the officers' statements. The Japanese Army most definitely trained Palauan youths for hazardous seaborne missions against U.S. forces, missions so dangerous that they were suicidal. The paper also discusses the use of Palauan oral histories, and employs the Kirikomi-tai episode to open a wider examination of conditions on Palau's Babeldaob Island during the year it was besieged by the United States. The Japanese Army's policy against surrender led not only to the readiness to sacrifice the Palauan youths, but to mass starvation and levels of violence and death not previously documented. Among the 50,000 civilians and Japanese military personnel trapped on Babeldaob, probably 10,000 died. At least 80% of these deaths were caused by famine and disease.
