Koji Hayakawa, a 98-year-old former crew member of the battleship Musashi, said war is nothing but evil in a recent interview [1].
Hayakawa's testimony provides a rare first-hand account of one of the largest naval engagements in history. As survivors of the Imperial Japanese Navy dwindle in number, his recollections serve as a primary record of the psychological and physical toll of the conflict.
Hayakawa was assigned to the Musashi in August 1944 [1]. He was 16 years old at the time, making him the youngest crew member on the vessel [1]. Only two months later, in October 1944, the battleship was sunk during the Battle of Leyte Gulf near the Philippines [1].
The sinking was catastrophic, and nearly half of the crew members were killed [1]. Hayakawa survived the disaster but continues to carry a physical reminder of the battle, a piece of shrapnel that remains embedded in his right arm [1].
Now living in Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture, Hayakawa said the lasting trauma of the event during an interview conducted on July 11 [1]. He said the cruelty of the experience left him with a singular message for future generations.
"War is evil. That is all," Hayakawa said [1].
While some reports suggest other crew members may have been as young as 15, Hayakawa is identified as the youngest member of the Musashi's crew in the FNN report [1].
“"War is evil. That is all."”
The testimony of Koji Hayakawa highlights the mobilization of child soldiers by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the final stages of World War II. By deploying 16-year-olds to frontline warships like the Musashi, the Japanese military underscored its desperation in 1944. His account shifts the historical focus from the technical specifications of the battleship to the human cost of the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
