This letter was quoted in Chris Marker’s Sans Soleil, it was written by Ryoji Uebara, a kamikaze, just before he took off. It seems quite relevant to Oshii’s Sky Crawlers, right?
I have always thought that Japan must live free in order to live eternally. It may seem idiotic to say that today, under a totalitarian regime. We kamikaze pilots are machines, we have nothing to say, except to beg our compatriots to make Japan the great country of our dreams. In the plane I am a machine, a bit of magnetized metal that will plaster itself against an aircraft carrier. But once on the ground I am a human being with feelings and passions.
Please excuse these disorganized thoughts. I’m leaving you a rather melancholy picture, but in the depths of my heart I am happy. I have spoken frankly, forgive me.
Thanks to Stéphane du Mesnildot!
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