Hiroo Onoda, a name that became legendary in Japan’s military history, was the soldier who continued to fight in the jungles for 30 years, unaware that World War II had ended. His story is one of endurance, survival, and loyalty, but also of isolation and tragedy—a reminder of how far devotion to a mission can push someone. In the chaos of war, Onoda became the epitome of a determined soldier, fully convinced that he was serving his country with honor.
The mission in the Philippines
Stationed on Lubang Island in the Philippines in December 1944, Hiroo Onoda was a young soldier filled with patriotic zeal. His orders were clear: destroy the airstrip and port facilities, and prevent Allied forces from landing. Alongside a team of elite soldiers, Onoda embarked on what was meant to be a crucial mission for Japan’s defense. However, just weeks after their arrival, an American attack forced them to retreat deep into the jungle, starting a three-decade odyssey for Onoda, who refused to believe the war had ended.
Decades of isolation and survival
When American and Filipino forces captured Lubang Island in February 1945, Onoda and a small group of soldiers fled into the thick jungle, where they waged a guerrilla war for nearly 30 years. During this time, they lived under unimaginable conditions. Their diet consisted of coconuts, bananas, and stolen rice, and occasionally, they managed to capture a stray cow for meat. They built makeshift shelters from branches and leaves and faced constant threats from insects, rats, and other jungle creatures. With every tropical rain, hordes of mosquitoes would descend, making their already harsh lives even harder.
Before leaving for Lubang, Onoda had been given strict orders from his commander: “You are forbidden to surrender or take your own life. It might take three years, it might take five, but whatever happens, we will come for you.” Onoda took these orders to heart and continued fighting, convinced Japan was still at war. In 1959, the Japanese government declared him dead, but Onoda, hidden deep in the jungle, was very much alive, fighting a war long since over for the rest of the world.
Refusing to accept the war’s end
From 1945 to 1974, Onoda refused to believe that the war had ended. Allied forces dropped leaflets from planes, announcing the end of the conflict, and letters from family members and photographs were also scattered in attempts to convince him to surrender. Yet Onoda, along with his comrades, was convinced these were enemy propaganda tactics designed to trick them. They believed their mission wasn’t over and that Japan would eventually come to rescue them.
Over the years, Onoda lost all his comrades. Yuichi Aktsu was the first to surrender in 1949, and the remaining two, Shoichi Shimada and Kinshichi Kozuka, were killed in skirmishes with Filipino authorities. Kozuka died in 1972, leaving Onoda alone. Even after this, Onoda didn’t abandon his fight.
The meeting with Norio Suzuki: the end of an odyssey
In the spring of 1974, a young Japanese adventurer named Norio Suzuki set out to find Onoda, a panda, and the Abominable Snowman. Incredibly, Suzuki found Onoda in the Lubang jungle. He informed Onoda that the war had been over for decades, but Onoda didn’t believe him. He said he would only surrender if given direct orders from his commanding officer.
Suzuki returned to Japan and persuaded authorities to bring Onoda’s former commander, Major Taniguchi, to Lubang. On March 9, 1974, Taniguchi personally informed Onoda that Japan had lost the war and it was time to surrender. Wearing his tattered uniform, with his rifle still operational and his sword intact, Onoda officially laid down his arms. His first words, spoken with disbelief and disappointment, were: “We really lost the war? How could they have been so weak?”
Returning to Japan: a bittersweet homecoming
Onoda was hailed as a national hero when he returned to Japan, but the country he found wasn’t the one he had fought for. Modern, technologically advanced, and pacifist Japan was vastly different from the imperial nation he had once known. Disillusioned by this new reality, Onoda chose to move to Brazil, where he lived a quiet life in isolation until his death in 2014.
The legacy and controversies surrounding Onoda’s story
Onoda’s experiences were chronicled in his memoir, No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War, which quickly became a bestseller. His story drew international attention and inspired various artistic works, including the 2021 film Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle by Arthur Harari, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. While the film was praised, it also sparked controversy, particularly regarding its portrayal of the impact Onoda’s actions had on the local Filipino population.
Filipino-Australian filmmaker Mia Stewart is working on a documentary that offers a Filipino perspective on these events, aiming to give voice to those affected by Onoda’s presence on the island. Additionally, German director Werner Herzog plans to release a novel based on Onoda’s life titled The Twilight World, which delves into the psychological complexities of a man caught between war ideologies and the harsh reality of his isolation.
Different interpretations of Onoda’s story
Onoda’s story continues to be viewed through different lenses. Some see him as a symbol of military devotion, while others view him as a cautionary tale about the dangers of war and extreme nationalism. His acts of violence against the local Filipino population, including guerrilla attacks and the killing of around 30 people, are often downplayed in popular accounts but remain a significant part of his complex legacy.
Naoko Seriu, an associate professor at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, suggests that Harari’s film attempts to balance Onoda’s portrayal, highlighting both his dedication and the violent consequences of his actions. “The film shows that Onoda was both feared and hated by the locals,” Seriu notes. “These scenes don’t fully measure the cruelty of his actions, but they provoke thought and invite the audience to reflect.”
The last soldier
Hiroo Onoda will be remembered as one of the last Japanese soldiers to continue fighting after the official end of World War II. Alongside others like Teruo Nakamura and Shoichi Yokoi, he refused to accept Japan’s surrender and remained in hiding in various parts of Asia. Onoda’s story, however, stands out due to the length and intensity of his isolation, as well as his unwavering commitment to the orders he had been given.
Onoda’s tale is not just one of courage and determination but also of the tragic consequences of blind loyalty to a cause. His three-decade fight became a symbol of perseverance and the madness of war, showing how a man’s belief in an ideal can isolate him from the rest of the world. The themes of war, nationalism, and endurance in his story remain relevant today, offering lessons that continue to inspire and provoke thought in those who learn about his incredible journey.
Fact check
- Hiroo Onoda remained in the jungle for 30 years, unaware that World War II had ended.
- He surrendered in 1974, following direct orders from his former commanding officer.
- Onoda’s story has inspired films, books, and controversy over the years.
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