by Paul Ham
– Paul Ham
3 June (Sun) Weather: fine
School
Today we worked clearing roads. I was in the morning group so it wasn’t terribly hot, but I was sweating. But who cares about that compared to the battlefield.
I must do my best in everything until we win the war.
Home
I came home on the 2.20pm ferry. I was in the morning group so I got home earlier than usual. Our home looked old and familiar, as if I hadn’t seen it in a long time. I suppose that’s because I left so early this morning.
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Woke up: 4.30am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
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Yoko’s home in Miyajima. Hers is the house with the tree in the courtyard. (Kohji Hosokawa)
Japanese Homes
Japanese homes were made of paper. Well, not all of it was paper – really, a mixture of wood and specially treated paper. The rooms didn’t have doors as our homes do. The doors were sliding doors made of wood and paper, called fusuma. The internal walls were in fact partitions that could be removed to create one big living space. Furniture was light and portable. Any room could become a ‘living room’, even the kitchen. In 1945, the ordinary Japanese heated their homes with charcoal – burnt wood – as coal was unobtainable by anyone other than the rich and powerful.
These were the traditional residences that packed the centre of Hiroshima and other cities. And they were extremely flammable. If one caught fire, the rest soon caught fire. No wonder most cities were reduced to ashes within hours of incendiary bombs falling.
– Paul Ham
4 June (Mon) Weather: fine
School
Today we worked clearing roads again in the usual place.
The sun was beating down and I was sweating and felt exhausted, but then I looked at the road as it was gradually cleared and realised that it looked so much better than before, and that one always feels good after working hard.
Home
On the way home today, Fujita-san, who is one of the senior girls, told me she was going to buy oysters from Sakuma [a fishmonger in Miyajimaguchi], so I accompanied her because I had some time up my sleeve. Just as Sakuma came into view, Fujita-san suddenly realised that she had forgotten to bring something to put the oysters in, so we set off again to find a container.
Reflections
Today I had the tuberculosis vaccination and it hurt a lot. But I put on a brave face, as minor pain like that is nothing to complain about.
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Woke up: 5.25am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: helped prepare dinner
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5 June (Tues) Weather: fine
School
Today, right at this very moment, a fierce battle is being waged in Okinawa. I am sure that the British and American schoolgirls are working hard doing all sorts of things to win the war. We must not be outdone by those schoolgirls, we simply mustn’t!
While I was studying today, a large number of enemy aircraft attacked the Kobe – Osaka region again. Schoolgirls like me may even have been hit by enemy fire and fallen like cherry blossom petals.
Fellow schoolgirls, you will surely be avenged. Rest in peace beneath the earth.
Home
Today I was delighted to arrive at the jetty in time for the 1.23pm ferry, which is very unusual for me. Then it occurred to me that right at the very moment I was feeling relieved because I was in time to catch the ferry, the planes of our bitter enemies were dropping bombs on the Japanese mainland. If enemy planes attack the mainland, it means that the mainland is a battlefield.
We are pushing forward on that battlefield, striving to increase production. If we will not work hard, who will? Whatever it takes, we must work as hard as we can until we win the war.
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Woke up: 5.15am Went to bed: 8pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
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The Imperial Japanese Army
Yoko often thinks of her father and the other soldiers fighting in the Pacific and at Okinawa. At the time, over five million men served in the Japanese Imperial Army: most were conscripts, meaning they were called up by the government and compelled to fight. Many volunteered, however. More than half of them were sent to China, Manchuria and other parts of the Japanese empire. By 1945 most were sick and hungry. Morale was low and supplies of food and ammunition were scarce. Huge numbers had been killed or wounded: more than 2.1 million Japanese servicemen would die by the end of the war, compared with around 417,000 US servicemen in both Europe and the Pacific and nearly 40,000 Australian servicemen in Europe and the Pacific.
The surviving Japanese soldiers could not get home to defend their country because the American naval blockade of Japan had shut them out. Left to defend the nation were the conscripted armed forces, the home guard and the Volunteer Fighting Corps, an army of civilians – many of them women and teenagers. The government in Tokyo ordered everyone – soldiers and civilians – to be prepared to fight to the death.
– Paul Ham
6 June (Wed) Weather: fine
School
Today we learned household management from Sekiyama Sensei for the first time. Sekiyama Sensei is tall and kind. At the beginning of the lesson we did some revision before moving on to the next part.
I had my tuberculin reaction checked and it was positive. My scar is 1.4 centimetres long. [Yoko would have had a skin test to check whether she had been exposed to the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.]
Home
On the way home I had a word with my walking group leader and stopped by Grandmother’s house. Grandmother was wearing reading glasses and using a hammer to do some carpentry. Mother had said she would come to Grandmother’s house, so I waited for her, but she didn’t come. I was really glad when she finally got there just when I was thinking about going home.
We came home on the 5.47pm ferry.
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Woke up: 5.15am Went to bed: 10pm Study: 1 hour Chores: helped prepare dinner
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7 June (Thu) Weather: fine
School
I had a slight toothache today but to my surprise it got better. I was so glad.
We were supposed to study physical science in our second lesson hour but Kurita Sensei was away so we did dressmaking instead. The warning siren sounded during the lesson, so we took cover in a bomb shelter straight away. Everyone was surprised because there was a frog in the bomb shelter. It caused quite a commotion.
Home
Today on the way home, I had a word with the leader of our walking group and went to see our relatives in Sendamachi. I waited for Mother again but she didn’t come, so I felt lonely. But to my delight she finally came after I put on a brave face and waited a little longer.
Today is my birthday.
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Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: helped prepare dinner
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8 June (Fri) Weather: fine
School
Today was Imperial Rescript Proclamation Day.
At school we flew the national flag, had a ceremony and listened to a reading of the Imperial Rescript on the Declaration of War. After that, our teacher checked how much cultivated land each of us has at home. I told him that Grandfather is very busy.
Home
Okayama-san, who was in my class when I was in Year 4 at national school, returned home from Hokkaido today. It was so good to see her again because she was my best friend. She has been attending Hokkaido Prefectural Girls’ High School of Sapporo but will be coming to Kenjo from now on. I am going to pray that she passes the Kenjo school entrance exam.
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Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: helped prepare dinner
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9 June (Sat) Weather: fine
School
Today our first lesson was biology and Kimura Sensei had everyone in stitches, as usual. At the beginning of his class, we put our h
ands together and say, ‘Good morning.’ But Kimura Sensei always makes us laugh by insisting that we say it too slowly. He is a really funny teacher!
Home
Today I rested for a while when I got home from school. Then, after eating, I spent some time with Okayama-san. Spending time with people can sometimes be boring, but when I’m with Okayama-san everything is kind of fun. We had such a great time visiting our old national school and saying hello to the teachers!
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Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 8pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
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10 June (Sun) Weather: fine
School
Today was a home training day.
Home
Today was a home training day. I had planned to sleep in, but my older brother, Kohji, is going to Kyushu on an errand for the Hiroshima Post and Telecommunications Bureau, so I helped to prepare various things for his trip.
It will be dangerous, so I prayed and asked God to keep Kohji safe.
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Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
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11 June (Mon) Weather: fine
School
Today we had labour service, so everybody gathered at Shijobashi Bridge before setting out for Hara Village. It was a long journey because Hara Village is so far away. When we got there, we visited the home of a family called the Matsumuras and helped them with some farm work. We had planned to cut wheat, but some students from Hiji Hill were already doing that so we helped in the fields instead.
Home
I was a little tired after doing labour service today but I gritted my teeth and just kept walking. On the way home, I stopped by Grandmother’s house. Then I went home and helped Kohji prepare for his trip.
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Woke up: 4am Went to bed: 11pm Study: 30 minutes Chores: prepared dinner
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12 June (Tue) Weather: fine then cloudy
School
Today in our practical studies class we learned how to plant sweet potatoes. Munekuni Sensei told us that the only way to learn how to grow sweet potatoes really well is to actually do it – not just talk about it. He is right. I am going to take great care next time I grow sweet potatoes.
Home
Today Kohji left for his trip to Kyushu on the 9.28 train. It will be a dangerous trip. God, please protect my brother and keep him safe.
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Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
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13 June (Wed) Weather: rainy
School
Today we did dressmaking for four straight hours with Oka Sensei. I can scarcely contain my joy as I see my dress gradually starting to take shape. I hope it looks really lovely when it’s finished!
Home
Yesterday I came home on the 6.32pm ferry but today I was lucky and got to the jetty in time to catch the 5.47pm ferry. I prepared for our national moral education class, wrote my diary and filled in my table of chores before going to bed.
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Woke up: 6am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
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Top: Various commuter passes Yoko used when she travelled to school. Bottom: Yoko’s purse, which she made herself. (Kohji Hosokawa)
14 June (Thu) Weather: cloudy then fine
School
Today we went to work at Yoshijima Airport. We ploughed the fields and planted sweet potatoes and soy beans. While we were working, training fighter planes flew overhead performing marvellous, astonishing feats.
Home
My body felt a little weary today but I kept my chin up and came home on the 3.16pm ferry. I was quite bored when I got home because Mother wasn’t there. But then I found a note on my desk from Mother. She wrote: ‘I’ve gone to dig up pine roots. Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be back soon.’ I felt much better after that and waited patiently for her to get home.
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Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
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15 June (Fri) Weather: rainy
School
Today we started making our summer uniforms. I cut out a piece of cloth and stitched the breast section. I felt happy but also amused by the whole thing, because I think we will look a bit strange. I couldn’t help smiling when I imagined all of us travelling to school wearing uniforms made out of different coloured cloth but using the same pattern.
Home
Today was another gloomy, rainy day. How I hate the start of the monsoon when everything feels so damp! On the way home the train broke down and I had to change to another train at Itsukaichi. Because of that I was late for the 5.47pm ferry, so I was simply ravenous.
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Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
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16 June (Sat) Weather: fine
School
Today in our biology class we learned about beans. I was so embarrassed because I mixed up the spelling of two words that mean completely different things. They sound exactly the same but are spelt differently. I was really happy because we did dressmaking in our second and third lesson hours. In our fourth lesson hour we studied national literature and read a story called ‘If I Had a Small Patch of Land’.
Home
I came home on the 5.47pm ferry. Dinner was ready when I got there, so I ate straight away.
When I sat down to write my diary there was a power blackout. The power suddenly came back on after a little while, but then it went out again just as I was about to start writing again. It was too bad!
* * *
Woke up: 6am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: cleared away after dinner
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Power Blackouts
The lights went off – and on – every day in Japan during the later years of the war. The power supplies were very unreliable. The Japanese had very little coal and other fuels to power the generators. They had to ration energy as well as food. Coal, for example – which was critical for generating electricity – was virtually exhausted. So the people had to gather wood for use as fuel. When the electricity failed, they lit their homes with kerosene lamps powered by oil. The American naval blockade surrounding Japan was intended to destroy the Japanese economy and it succeeded.
– Paul Ham
17 June (Sun) Weather: fine
School
Today was a home training day.
Home
Today I was very busy getting things ready because I will be doing farm work in Yoshiwa at my grandparents’ farm tomorrow. I would like to take some small gifts to Yoshiwa to give to friends, but there are no such gifts during wartime. I suppose it’s the thought that counts.
God, please protect us tomorrow so we get there safely.
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Woke up: 6am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: cleared away after dinner
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18 June (Mon) Weather: cloudy
School
Today I did farm work.
Home
This morning we left home early and went to buy tickets. The person in front of me in the queue bought the very last ticket, which was too bad, but I was glad to find out there was a truck that could take us there instead. We got to Yoshiwa at about 12 noon, and my grandparents were really happy to see us. I was quite tired today, so I didn’t do much to help around the house.
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Woke up: 5am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 30 minutes Chores: prepared dinner
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19 June (Tue) Weather: fine
School
Today I did farm work.
Home
Today was my second day at Yoshiwa. My jobs are to wake up early in the morning and tend the chickens, prepare meals, clean up after meals, clean the house and pull up weeds outside the house and in the field. Then I rest for a while and start working again.
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W
oke up: 6am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: did farm work
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20 June (Wed) Weather: fine with a shower then fine
School
Today I did farm work.
Home
When I awoke this morning, a lovely white fog was hanging over the plains and fields at the foot of the mountain. It was a splendid morning. Those chickens are so lovely – whenever I approach the chicken coop they start clucking because they are so happy to see me!
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Woke up: 6am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared meals
