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Asahi Shimbun
2 days ago
- General
- Asahi Shimbun
Comrade of kamikaze pilots says ‘everyone wanted to live'
MINAMI-KYUSHU, Kagoshima Prefecture—Treated as 'gods' for sacrificing their lives to protect their country and their families, kamikaze pilots have inspired generations of Japanese in the postwar period. Their photos and farewell letters adorn the walls of the Chiran Peace Museum here, which is dedicated to the pilots and emphasizes their selfless nature. Kyotaro Tago, 100, who lives in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, has visited Minami-Kyushu's Chiran district and the museum many times and says he is always brought to tears. Just seeing the portraits of the pilots overwhelms him with emotion, he said. Eighty years ago in 1945, the final year of World War II, Tago was responsible for preparing the orders commanding missions from Taiwan to Okinawa. His role was to send off his comrades—'friends with whom I had eaten meals'—on their suicide flights. He said his hands would tremble every time he wrote an order. The official stance is that the kamikaze pilots were all 'volunteers.' However, Tago recalls that one of his fellow flight school classmates deliberately inhaled dust in the corners of their rooms to develop lung disease and avoid missions. Tago also remembers one kamikaze pilot who survived by deliberately steering his plane off course during takeoff, causing an accident that ultimately saved his life. 'Everyone wanted to live,' Tago said. ESTIMATED 6,000 DIE IN SUICIDE MISSIONS 'Tokko,' short for 'tokubetsu kogeki' (special attack), refers to suicide missions in which pilots or crew members deliberately crash into enemy warships, with no expectation of survival. Japan resorted to this tactic for the first time in October 1944, when the situation was worsening for the Japanese military in the Pacific Theater. Specifically, 'kamikaze tokubetsu kogeki-tai' (divine wind special attack unit) crashed into an American ship in a battle in the Philippines. From spring 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, kamikaze units were deployed from various locations, including Kyushu and Taiwan. Suicide weapons, such as 'human torpedos' called 'kaiten,' were also developed. Altogether, an estimated 6,000 people died in these kamikaze missions. 'DEEPLY MOVED' One day in mid-July, the Chiran Peace Museum was bustling with visitors. A 33-year-old office worker from Tokyo was deeply absorbed in reading the pilots' neatly written farewell letters. He said this was his second visit to the museum. During his first visit last year, he said, he felt 'a sense of determination that is missing in many Japanese people today.' He realized his own decisions about entering university and finding employment had been made somewhat 'haphazardly,' he said. With that realization, he said his approach to life and work changed significantly over the past year. He even started a new business project within the company he works at. 'I was deeply moved by the way (these kamikaze pilots) gave their lives out of love for their families and country,' he said. 'It makes me feel that I, too, have to live earnestly.' POSTWAR HONORS Chiran was the Imperial Japanese Army's largest kamikaze launch base during the final stages of the war. The Chiran Peace Museum stands on the site of the former Chiran airfield. It attracts up to 700,000 visitors annually at its busiest times. The museum's exhibits focus primarily on letters and personal belongings left behind by the pilots, highlighting their emotions and thoughts. Walls are covered with portraits of young men around 20 years old. Their farewell letters include poignant words, such as: 'I am now departing. I truly go forth with joy and excitement,' and 'Tenno Heika, Banzai (Long live the emperor).' Satoshi Yamaki, a 49-year-old curator, reflected on the museum's history, saying, 'Originally, it was more like part of a shrine or temple than a museum.' During the war, kamikaze pilots were praised as 'military gods' and 'divine eagles.' Memorial activities for these pilots began around 1952, after the Allied Occupation ended. That spring, a statue of Kannon (Buddhist goddess of mercy) for kamikaze pilots was erected in Tokyo. In the following year, a group dedicated to honoring and commemorating the kamikaze pilots was established. Among its founders were former Japanese military officers who had commanded kamikaze operations, including former Navy Adm. Koshiro Oikawa and former Army Lt. Gen. Michio Sugawara. In 1955, the same group of former military officers enshrined a Kannon statue in Chiran. A town bulletin at the time reported on the statue's consecration ceremony, including a statement from former Army Gen. Masakazu Kawabe, praising the pilots. 'With pure and sincere devotion, as if returning home, they bravely carried out their heroic mission to give their all to surely hit their targets,' the statement said. KAMIKAZE TOURISM Changes began to appear around 1970. As former military personnel reached their retirement age, the number of visitors to Chiran increased. Many bereaved families of the kamikaze pilots also started donating personal belongings. Town officials in Chiran began to view the kamikaze history as a potential 'tourism resource.' According to minutes from a Chiran town assembly meeting in 1971, a special committee stated that development of the kamikaze base is the top priority for promoting tourism. In response to these changes, the town in 1975 established a museum to display kamikaze pilots' relics on the second floor of a rest area in the park. In 1987, the current Chiran Peace Museum was opened, with the town investing 500 million yen ($3.4 million) in its construction. Starting in 1990, the museum began hosting peace speech contests, placing emphasis on the pilots' love for their families and their humanity. Junro Matsumoto, 97, served as the museum's director from 1988 to 1991, and also worked as a storyteller until 2015. He had no military experience but lost a friend in a kamikaze mission. 'I wanted people to know that there were young men who risked their lives to protect their families, loved ones and country,' Matsumoto said. Some of the exhibits at the museum explain that the kamikaze pilots volunteered for their missions of their own free will. MUST FOLLOW ORDERS Tago, the centenarian, enlisted in the Imperial Japanese Army's flight school in August 1944, when he was a student at Kwansei Gakuin University. When Japan's suicide missions began, he and his comrades were told they would become kamikaze pilots as well. In January 1945, Tago was dispatched to Taiwan. However, his assignment was at the flight unit's headquarters, where he was responsible for preparing the orders for the kamikaze flights. He said these young men had no real choice but to follow the orders. Many testimonies reveal that a facility in Fukuoka city was used to detain kamikaze pilots who failed to carry out their missions. In Tago's unit, he said, the threat of being 'sent to Fukuoka' was used as a warning to deter desertion. When Tago sees the neatly written farewell letters of the pilots on display at the museum, the emotions that arise within him are neither admiration nor gratitude—but pity. 'People can't die without a just cause,' Tago said. Even if the cause was forced upon them, these pilots had no choice but to write about that cause in their letters, he said. 'They couldn't write their true feelings, like 'I don't want to die, but I'm being sent on orders.' 10% SUCCESS RATE Tago believes that all the pilots likely had a genuine desire to protect their families and country. However, in reality, they were trained for suicide attacks at flight school and sent to the front lines after only a few months. According to some studies, the Japanese military dispatched about 3,300 aircraft on kamikaze missions, but only slightly over 10 percent of these attacks actually hit enemy ships. On the other hand, many of the commanders who sent these pilots on their last missions survived the war and lived long lives. One former army commander wrote late in his life that the kamikaze attacks were 'an outbreak of patriotic sentiment among the people' and 'naturally arose without anyone explicitly ordering them.' In recent years in Chiran, some popular tours include participants reading the farewell letters of the kamikaze pilots and sharing their thoughts. The tourists use this experience to reflect on how they approach life and work. Several tour operators run these programs. 'I guess they don't really understand the harshness of the military,' Tago said.
Courier-Mail
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Panthers players spotted at Sydney Pro-Palestine protest
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Penrith Panthers players Mitch Kenny and Izack Tago attended the Pro-Palestine march in Sydney on Sunday, a day after playing in an NRL victory. Tens of thousands of protesters marched across Sydney's Harbour Bridge in a massive demonstration that far exceeded the expected turn-out. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. About 90,000 people, including famous faces, braved the rain and descended on the iconic landmark with placards and flags in hand to call for an end to the war in Gaza after the Supreme Court rejected a last-minute application to block the protest on Saturday. Panthers hooker Kenny and centre Tago both played in Penrith's 30-26 win over the Gold Coast Titans at CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on Saturday. Get all the latest Australian news as it happens — download the app direct to your phone. Mitch Kenny and Izack Tago at the Pro-Palestine protest. Photo: X. Mitch Kenny and Izack Tago at the Pro-Palestine protest. Photo: X. The premiership-winning duo spent their Sunday at the rally in Sydney, organised by the Palestine Action Group, which was largely well-behaved despite police intervention over fears of a crowd rush. Tago and Kenny were spotted in the thick of things in the march and were happy to pose for photos with fans and give them a wave. Kenny wore a shirt that read 'Free Palestine', while Tago held a Palestine flag and wore a Palestine scarf around his head. As the march made its way across the city, Tago was spotted climbing part of the Sydney Harbour Bridge's steel structure. The Panthers declined to comment when contacted by Izack Tago (left) climbs the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Photo: Supplied. Tago (above) climbed up the Harbour Bridge. Photo: Supplied. The march was endorsed by hundreds of organisations and individuals, most notably: Amnesty International Australia, NSW Greens, Jewish Council of Australia, Arab Council Australia, Julian Assange, Bob Carr, Craig Foster and NSW Nurses and Midwives Association. In Sydney, thousands of protesters started crossing the bridge about 2pm on Sunday, chanting 'free, free Palestine' and waving placards. Some could also be heard chanting 'death, death to the IDF', a reference to the Israeli Defence Force. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore lent her support to the protesters saying: 'Discomfort from traffic can't be compared to what's happening in Gaza'. Jewish Council of Australia Executive Officer Sarah Schwartz backed the protest saying the marchers were 'crying out for moral leadership'. 'It is a time for all of us, including those in positions of power, to do everything they can to halt an active genocide and stand with the people of Gaza.' Pro Palestine protesters march towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw 'Almost catastrophic': Fears of crowd crush At about 3pm, NSW Police issued an urgent request for protesters to stop marching on safety fears, citing a possible 'crush' at the northern end of the bridge. 'Participants have been asked to stop proceeding across the bridge to avoid a crowd crush at the northern end of the harbour bridge,' the police said in what they called a 'protest safety intervention'. 'Once the procession has come to a halt, protesters will be asked to turn around and walk back toward Wynyard to avoid a risk of injury due to the huge number of people taking part. 'Police believe the safest route back is to walk back across the bridge given the huge numbers to avoid overwhelming the public transport system and a potential crowd crush scenario.' The crowd started dispersing from the bridge about 3.30pm and traffic started crossing the bridge about 4.30pm. People, including Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and Craig Foster, march across the Harbour Bridge during a pro-Palestinian rally. (Photo by Lisa) Penrith cop mega punishment for trainer act Penrith's win over the Titans kept their dream of winning a fifth consecutive NRL premiership alive, with the victory putting them just one point behind the fourth placed Warriors on the ladder. The Panthers were fined $50,000 and trainer Corey Bocking banned for five matches after he interfered with a Titans conversion attempt on the weekend. The NRL confirmed the stunning penalty on Monday which came as a result of 'previous breaches by Penrith Panthers trainers'. Bocking who ran directly across the path of Titans kicker Jayden Campbell, who was attempting a conversion in last weekend' match. Campbell had to furiously compose himself and ultimately missed the conversion before Nathan Cleary sent the game into extra time with a long-range field goal. The Panthers won the match thanks to a Blaize Talagi golden point try which cost the Titans two crucial points in their bid to avoid the wooden spoon. Originally published as Panthers players spotted at Sydney Pro-Palestine protest
Eater
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
A Slew of Very Cool Cocktail Bars Dominate June Openings in Houston
1120 Dennis Street in Houston Why vacation in Tulum when Tulum is available in Houston? Tago, located in Midtown, offers dinner service with a menu featuring items such as pulpo served over hominy with savory tomatillo sauce, a duck mole tostada, ceviche, spicy watermelon and tuna aguachile, as well as adobo chicken, filet steak, and mushroom risotto. There is also a summery cocktail menu with drinks including a Mango Suave (gin, mango, lime, and sugar) and the French Kiss (vodka, Chambord, lime, and pear, served with a bottle of prosecco). It's also a late-night spot — some might say club — with bottle service. The dark interiors feature velvet couches surrounding tables, a spot-lit bar, and a tree growing from the center of the room. Outside is a patio with light wood furniture that looks like a wonderful resort escape. 4520 Washington Avenue in Houston Straight out of the mind of Abbas Dhanani, founder of Burger Bodega, comes a pop-up that Houston needs this summer: Bas's Cheesesteaks. The first pop-up will happen on Monday, June 30, at 11 a.m. and go until it sells out, with more dates to be announced on social media. Dhanani said in a press release that he wanted to honor cheesesteak culture in Philadelphia, while bringing it to Houston — and that cheesesteaks are his favorite sandwich. Diners should try the Bas (white cheese and sliced rib-eye beef on a seeded hoagie roll with or without onions). 18207B Egret Bay Boulevard in Houston Making sushi accessible to all is the mission of this restaurant and its executive chef, Leo Hirai. Hand rolls from the menu are made fresh to order; options include classics like tuna and salmon, as well as items such as spicy scallop and lobster. It also offers curated hand roll sets to make ordering easier for those who are new to sushi. Located down by NASA, this strip mall outlet has a sushi counter with swivel stools, and the color scheme of tan and red is punctuated by adorable art of kittens cuddling with rolls of sushi. 1815 North Durham Drive in Houston The owners are the folks behind now-closed Flying Fish slipped this ad-hoc bar into the same space in the Greater Heights area. The new operation is serving beers from the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium and, for opening, burgers from Rodeo Goat, both businesses also owned by the team behind the Kid (who were also behind the now-closed Meddlesome Moth in Dallas). Though this bar opened back in April, per a report on it is hosting its official opening party now. One interesting note: To keep it adult, kids are not allowed in after 7 p.m. 1226 West Clay Street in Houston After closing in Spring Branch, this inventive cocktail bar is back at a new location between River Oaks and Montrose. It shares a space with Emma Jane, making it a tea house by day and cocktail bar by night. Imbibe exotic cocktails like the Operation: White Flame (vodka, dry vermouth, Earl Grey, and caviar), an Ottoman Fashion (Scotch, coffee, cardamom, and fig), or the Culture Exchange (reposado tequila, pineapple, and miso agave). There are also small bites, including a Crudo 'Hot Pot' featuring wagyu and Hawai'i shrimp with a warm and savory custard, Morel Sunomono with preserved wild mushrooms in chilled dashi, and the KFC: Korean fried chicken with peanut sauce, Maggi aioli, and citrus-cured fennel. 4500 Montrose Boulevard in Houston An immersive tiki bar is coming to Montrose, in the back of Betelgeuse, on July 2. Created by Chris Cusack and Brian Dibala, the space aims to 'represent the space between death and vacation,' per a press release, with decor that brings the hyper reality of the movie Betelgeuse to mind, and certainly owes a debt to filmmaker Tim Burton. Drinks include options like Brown Butter Rum Old Fashioned (brown butter fat-washed Planteray and Smith and Cross, rich paradise syrup, blended bitters), This Sunset Should be Illegal (mezcal, acid-adjusted orange juice, orange liqueur lime punch syrup, fassionola) for $17, and a Pistachio Mai Tai (Probitas, El Dorado 8, and Hamilton 151 rums, house pistachio orgeat, orange liqueurs, lime, fire, and a pretty flower). It will only hold 50 people at a time, and reservations will go live on Resy at any minute — you'll want to snap one up. 2102 North Shepherd Drive in Houston The Heights lands a cute spot selling shave ice and frozen cocktails. Owned by Shawn Bermudez and Matthew Pak of the Burger Joint, this place has a menu of Hawai'i-style shave ice that includes flavors such as Coco Loco (blue coconut and lime syrup, sweetened condensed milk drizzle, mochi, toasted coconut flakes, and a coconut ice cream base), Aloha Island (blue coconut and passion fruit syrups, sweetened condensed milk drizzle, mochi, toasted coconut flakes, and a vanilla ice cream base), and Happy Rainbow (strawberry, pineapple, and vanilla syrups with strawberry and pineapple puree, sweetened condensed milk drizzle, fresh strawberries and pineapple, rainbow mochi, and a vanilla ice cream base). There are also frozen cocktails, such as the Very Piña Colada (a frozen piña colada topped with blue coconut and pineapple shave ice), strawberry frosé, and Island Dream (a frozen Miami Vice topped with passion fruit and pineapple shave ice). See More: Houston Restaurant Openings
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Shoppers rush to Aldi to pick up dupe for Cadbury favourite
CHOCOLATE lovers are racing to their nearest Aldi to snap up a dupe for a Cadbury favourite. A savvy shopper posted the sweet treat on the popular NewfoodsUK Facebook group. 1 Aldi's new Honeycomb Clusters have left shoppers in a frenzy Aldi's new Honeycomb Clusters are a dupe of Cadbury's popular Crunchie Clusters. Hundreds of sweet-toothed fans liked and commented on the post, raving about the new product. One user wrote: "They look yummy." "I ate the whole bag," another commented. This shopper said: "Ooooo a dupe of my fave!!" "I have to get these if I go," a fourth added. Chocolate fans will need to visit their nearest Aldi to grab the new snacks, as the dupe isn't available online. It comes after Home Bargains revealed their dupe of an elegant Polish chocolate bar, which is 92 per cent cheaper than the original. The delectable chocolate straws, stuffed full of hazelnut cream, are being snagged for literal pennies, 15 to be exact. The original Tago rolls cost £1.99, and one user commented that buying a similar product in a Cyprus airport can cost a whopping seven euros. Shopping discounts - How to make savings and find the best bargains Chocoholics show no sign of slowing down after Easter as they rave about the "creamy hazelnut" filling, which "puts the Nutella into the crispy treat." One raved: 'They taste beautiful, they're dangerous, I can't stop eating them.' Another agreed, exclaiming: 'Oh my go, they are delicious, these will not last long, hazelnut is my kryptonite." One TikTok food reviewer, whose discerning taste buds command the respect of nearly 70k followers, proclaimed: 'These are absolutely delicious and an absolute bargain! 'That creamy filling is to die for. "I literally drove back to the store, 15 minutes away, to grab more before they went." Creamy, creamy, creamy- the word was repeated by almost every reviewer. Remember to compare prices It is important to always shop around as you might find a cheaper alternative. Websites like Trolley and Price Spy let you compare thousands of products across different retailers to find the best price. Price Spy even lets you see how much an item has cost over time, so you can see if the current price is a good deal. A quick scan on the Google Shopping/Product tab will also bring up how much retailers are selling a certain item for too. How to save money on chocolate We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs... Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars. Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere. Websites like let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal. Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced. They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged. Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar. So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.
Scottish Sun
24-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Home Bargains shoppers rush to store to pick up 15p chocolate bars that are a perfect dupe for popular snack
Shoppers rave about the "addictive" dupe that literally costs pennies CHOCOLATE HEAVEN Home Bargains shoppers rush to store to pick up 15p chocolate bars that are a perfect dupe for popular snack Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOME bargains are living up to their name with a dupe of an elegant Polish chocolate bar, which is 92% cheaper than the original. The delectable chocolate straws, stuffed full of hazelnut cream, are being snagged for literal pennies, 15 to be exact, at Home Bargains. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 One TikTok star "literally drove" 20 minutes to get another haul of the moreish morsels Credit: Facebook 2 The Tago originals originate from Poland, but are 92% more expensive than the knock-off Credit: UK Food Plus The original Tago rolls cost £1.99, and one user commented that buying a similar product in a Cyprus airport can cost a whopping seven euros. Chocoholics show no sign of slowing down after Easter as they rave about the "creamy hazelnut" filling, which "puts the Nutella into the crispy treat." One raved: 'They taste beautiful, they're dangerous, I can't stop eating them.' Another agreed, exclaiming: 'Oh my go, they are delicious, these will not last long, hazelnut is my kryptonite." One TikTok food reviewer, whose discerning taste buds command the respect of nearly 70k followers, proclaimed: 'These are absolutely delicious and an absolute bargain! 'That creamy filling is to die for. "I literally drove back to the store, 15 minutes away, to grab more before they went." Creamy, creamy, creamy- the word was repeated by almost every reviewer. Tariq Wright pointed out that you can bulk buy, as they have a shelf life of nine months, although it is doubtful that many will last that long. But many users had already had to restock up, so good luck making them last that long. Carly wrote: 'Had to get me another box of the hazelnut wafer rolls, coated in a chocolate filling.' Choccy lovers' funky uses of the crunchy treats range from popping them into ice cream, milkshake, and even smashing them up into cheesecake bases.
