Masashi Itō (伊藤 正, 1921–2004) was a machine-gunner [1] and sergeant in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War. He was among the last hold-outs to surrender after the war ended.
When the Americans liberated Guam in July 1944, Itō was separated from his unit. [1] He hid with two other soldiers and learned to survive in the jungle. [1] For sixteen years, he hid even after finding leaflets declaring that the war had ended. [2]
When the last of his companions, Bunzō Minagawa (皆川文蔵), was captured by woodsmen in 1960, Itō was convinced to surrender on 23 May 1960 and was treated at a nearby American military base. [1] [3]
Itō married on January 7, 1961, [2] and had a daughter. A movie was made about his life.[ citation needed] He later worked as a watchman for the Toei Motion Picture Company in Tokyo. [2] He wrote a book about his experiences entitled The Emperor's Last Soldiers, published in 1967.
Masashi Itō (伊藤 正, 1921–2004) was a machine-gunner [1] and sergeant in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War. He was among the last hold-outs to surrender after the war ended.
When the Americans liberated Guam in July 1944, Itō was separated from his unit. [1] He hid with two other soldiers and learned to survive in the jungle. [1] For sixteen years, he hid even after finding leaflets declaring that the war had ended. [2]
When the last of his companions, Bunzō Minagawa (皆川文蔵), was captured by woodsmen in 1960, Itō was convinced to surrender on 23 May 1960 and was treated at a nearby American military base. [1] [3]
Itō married on January 7, 1961, [2] and had a daughter. A movie was made about his life.[ citation needed] He later worked as a watchman for the Toei Motion Picture Company in Tokyo. [2] He wrote a book about his experiences entitled The Emperor's Last Soldiers, published in 1967.