Myth of Arrival

History, they say, has terrible ways of repeating itself. In this part of the film we meet a 10 year-old girl, Chiaki; a neighbor of Kohitsuji's, someone she tries to take care of even as the Himeyuri begin their fateful march across the island to the battle front.

I chose the name Chiaki on purpose; it is the the pseudonym of a young girl the Okinawa media dubbed “Chiaki Hibi;” a junior high school student raped this year in February by a U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergent. For a full account of the incident as well as the reports of some activists actually trying to get something done, please read the Feminist Peace Network's resolution.

Regardless of my Government's lawyers who appear to be trying to place the blame squarely on the the 14 year-old (labeling her as some sort of Okinawan Lolita) I have a hard time separating the story of this young child from the children who made up the Himeyuri in 1946. In both cases those who claimed to have a vested interest in their protection (and the population of Okinawa itself, truth be told) allowed terrible things to happen on their watch. Whatever your feelings about our U.S. Military bases scattered over Okinawa this rape is not an isolated occurrence with our soldiers. I do not wish to demonetize my Military, most of which do not go about raping children. However, for over the last six decades rape cases have been reported by the locals — both in the Okinawa media, their government and survivor's first hand accounts — only to have my own military administrators look the other way, make embarrassing excuses they should be ashamed of or simply claim some vague form of diplomatic immunity. As long as these men are escaping the law how can anyone claim justice has been served?

I say my military because it is easy for us to distance ourselves from such events and people. Things that happen half a world away by members of an organization many people on the Left already have doubts about has been and will remain far too easy to dismiss. Perhaps because it is so easy to say “That Isn't My Problem;” which might explain why we've let those who need to be held accountable off the hook for so long? To be a citizen is, after all, to be responsible. If I don't start with myself, why should I expect anyone else to?

Still, I sincerely sympathize with the Okinawan people who wish to have such people off their islands; who wouldn't?

Notes:

Naha is the capital city of Okinawa.

“Namu amida butsu” – Pure Land Buddhist prayer, roughly translated as “I trust in the Buddha of Immeasurable Light and Eternal Life.”

[Graduation Day: Walking over rocky grounds the Colonel and head doctors for the Himeyuri address the collected girls]

Colonel: Himeyuri Student Corps! Work hard so as not to bring shame to the First Girls' School! This is the greatest glory you will ever have! For those who can return to your homes to say goodbye to your families. We march tomorrow afternoon. We shall all die in the service of the Emperor! Banzai!

[cut to: later that day. Kohitsuji has returned to see her mother. She answers a knock at their door to find their Neighbor and her daughter]

Kohitsuji: Oh, it is a pleasure to see you again.

Neighbor: Ah, Kohitsuji-san, I am glad to see you are well [they bow] We have come to ask for your help.

Kohitsuji: Mine? Certainly. What can I do?

Neighbor: I do not want to leave my daughter, Chiaki, alone when I return to Naha to help my father get ready for the invasion. Chiaki is only 10 years-old but I thought she'd be much safer if she went with you, with the Himeyuri.

Kohitsuji [bending down]: Chiaki-san, is this what you want? You know we'll be working all day taking care of wounded men.

Chiaki [softly]: I … want to go home.

Kohitsuji [worried]: But Chiaki-san, the enemy is dropping bombs everywhere. Maybe your village isn't safe right now?

Mother [entering]: Do we have guests? Oh my, it is a pleasure to see both of you. Kohitsuji-san, please show some manners and put the tea on.

Kohitsuji [bowing]: Of course, Okkaa-san. [exits]

Mother: Please forgive my daughter, she leaves tomorrow to the front. I understand there are a lot of wounded men there that need caring for.

Neighbor: Please, will you help us? I must return to the capital city but I want Chiaki to be safe. Would you talk to Kohitsuji? I was hoping she would take her along.

Mother: You mean to the front lines where the enemy is bombing us night and day from what I am told? How could that be safer than your village?

Neighbor: But the Himeyuri won't be at the front, will they? I thought they were assigned to the rear where the hospitals are? Where else is safer than surrounded by our Army? Even the Americans won't bomb hospitals, would they?

Mother: Do not worry, both of you. The Emperor will not let anything happen to us. We might be on an island but we are all Japanese citizens. All of us. I am sure he would have evacuated us if anyone thought this war would drag on too long.

Neighbor: But please, talk to Kohitsuji? For Chiaki's sake …

[cut to: next day the Himeyuri march across the island to the 3rd Army Surgical Unit]

Girls [singing]: “We shall meet again/ This time as friends/ We shall see all we love/ Waiting for us at home …”

Katsuko [laughing]: Colonel-san was so embarrassing yesterday!

Tira: He was drunk!

Niigaki: And what was that terrible song he kept trying to sing? “Give your life for the sake of the Emperor/ Wherever you may go!/ Give your life!”

Tira: I think he should leave the singing to us.

[laughter]

[cut to: Chiaki marching in the crowd, looking miserable and lonely]

Higa: You know, I have never really seen a wounded man before. They kept having us bandage each other. What if I see blood and pass out?

Niigaki [teasing]: Higa-san is a big baby!

Kohitsuji: I wouldn't worry too much. I think once the excitement starts we will all just do what we have to.

[cut to: next day at their new barracks with many girls on washing detail]

Ashitomi [calling out]: Kohitsuji-san, is this what you meant yesterday as “exciting”?

Kohitsuji: Oh, I don't mind, just as long as …

[cut to: a muffled noise, girls looking around in hesitation]

Chiaki: What is that?

[cut to: explosions in the jungle, screams of planes overhead]

Man #1: Bombs! Bombs! Run to the caves!

[chaos as the nurses try to flee, shot of Niigaki looking about in panic, calling to girls still in the dormitory]

Niigaki: Chiaki! Run!

[cut to: long tracer fire as American fighters race to the 3rd Surgery Unit. cut to: Niigaki and Chiaki falling forward as bullets rip past them]

Chiaki [calling out]: Kohitsuji! Kohitsuji!

[cut to: inside of cave, girls screaming, stumbling about in the dark]

Kohitsuji: Chiaki! Run!

[cut to: American fighters dropping bomb after bomb.

cut to: Niigaki, Chiaki and a third girl pick themselves up and try to run for shelter]

Kohitsuji: Chiaki!

[Kohitsuji falls back, blinded as the three girls vanish in a burst of flame and agony]

Kohitsuji: Chiaki! No! Chiaki!

[cut to later that night: Kohitsuji praying and crying]

Kohitsuji: Namu … Amida … Butsu … Namu … Amida … Butsu … I am so sorry, Chiaki … I am so sorry Niigaki … I failed you, I couldn't protect you … you came here to do good and you are gone … Namu … Amida … Butsu … I am so sorry … I failed you.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 8:57 pm and is filed under Original Song, Video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.