Kazuo Sakamaki

Kazuo Sakamaki was a Sub-lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Navy who became the first prisoner of war captured by the United States during World War II. He was the only surviving crewman of a midget submarine attack during the Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. His capture and subsequent public status as a prisoner made him a significant, albeit reluctant, figure in Allied propaganda and a symbol of the war's early phase.

Early life and military career

Born in Awa, Tokushima within the Empire of Japan, Sakamaki graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1940. He volunteered for the Special Attack Unit and was trained in the operation of Type A *Kō-hyōteki*-class midget submarines, a secret weapon intended for surprise attacks. Assigned to the Japanese submarine I-24, his vessel was one of five midget submarines deployed as part of the opening strike against the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The mission, commanded by Mitsuo Fuchida from the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi, aimed to cripple the United States Navy's battleships, including the USS Arizona (BB-39). Mechanical failures plagued his submarine, preventing a successful attack and leading to its grounding on the coast of Oahu.

Capture and imprisonment

After his submarine ran aground near Bellows Field, Sakamaki attempted to destroy the vessel with explosives, which failed to detonate. He swam ashore but lost consciousness and was discovered by United States Army Corporal David Akui, becoming the first Japanese prisoner of war. Initially held at Sand Island detention camp, he was later transferred to the mainland United States, spending time at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and other POW camps. His capture was widely publicized by the U.S. War Department, and his intact submarine was toured across the country as part of War bond drives. During his imprisonment, he was interrogated by U.S. naval intelligence and was held alongside other Axis prisoners until the war's end.

Post-war life and legacy

Repatriated to Japan in 1946, Sakamaki faced societal stigma for having survived as a prisoner, a condition viewed with deep shame under the Imperial Japanese Army's Bushidō code. He found employment with the Toyota Motor Corporation, eventually rising to president of its Brazilian subsidiary before retiring in São Paulo. He authored an autobiography, *I Attacked Pearl Harbor*, which detailed his experiences and expressed his anti-war sentiments. Sakamaki's legacy is complex, serving as both a historical footnote to the Attack on Pearl Harbor and a human symbol of the futility of war, with his captured submarine remaining on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C..

In popular culture

Sakamaki's unique story has been referenced in several documentaries and historical works about World War II and the Pacific War. He was portrayed by actor Danny Kamekona in the 1970 film *Tora! Tora! Tora!*, which dramatized the events leading to the attack. His experience is also frequently cited in historical analyses of prisoner of war treatment and psychological warfare during the conflict. The tale of his failed mission and capture continues to be a point of interest in media exploring the personal stories behind the major events of the war.

Category:Japanese military personnel of World War II Category:Imperial Japanese Navy officers Category:Japanese prisoners of war in World War II Category:Survivors of the Attack on Pearl Harbor