A History Teacher Reacts | "The WWII Japanese Soldier Who Didn’t Surrender Until 1974" SimpleHistory

[@charlesmayberry2825]

His order was to stand and fight until they came for him, in person. He followed his orders exactly. "It may take three years, it may take five, but we will come back for you" That order is more than it seems at a glance. it means that regardless how long it takes, keep fighting, until we come and get you. They didn't come back and get him in person. He kept fighting. He did exactly what he was ordered, in exactly the manner he was ordered, during that time he had no contact with the outside world. He was gather information on resources, food supplies, anything that could be strategically valuable. The thing to remember even though the President of the Ferdinand Marcos, gave him a complete pardon, It was very unpopular, and they also don't mention, when he surrendered his sword to The President, At his pardon it was returned to him. I'm pointing that out because they understood what his orders meant, and that yes he killed some of the locals. he raided their farms, and supplies. That however in wartime would kind of be normal. That They hadn't come back, and therefore his orders stood.

[@armchairwarrior963]

Another reason they thought the war was still going was. The planes that was heading for Korean war, and later the Vietnam etc.. Made them think that Japan was still holding out against the US.

[@colton2680]

Oooo the new intro looks sick!

[@trollscream8607]

Heck yeah

[@ThePuma1707]

General Kenobi, you are a bold one!

[@scoovy9170]

Ah, General Kenobi

[@tofuteh2348]

Hello there

[@bbrdbr]

dangit Kenobi why are you always here

[@RRW359]

I think he was the only one that lasted until the 70's, but there were a lot of these people even into the early 60's. Gilligan's Island even had an episode about one.

[@tricksor6589]

By lasted do you mean thinking the war is still on or living till the 70's? Because he died in 2014

[@tonyshu6052]

i am cheeese he meant didn’t surrender until 70s

[@epicphatful]

RRW someone listened to the dollop lol

[@LB1973]

He was actually outlasted definitely by one more, Tereo Nakamura, who was actually Taiwanese not Japanese who lasted to December 1974 but he wasn't as celebrated or well known because well he wasn't Japanese. Obviously Kozuka held out til 72 with Onoda and there was one more in 1972 Shoichi Yokoi who held out on Guam. Yokoi had known since 1952 the war had ended though he just hid in a cave too ashamed to return.He was part of three that were together until 1960 where the other 2 surrendered. In the fifties there were many, 17 surrendered in 1955/6 alone. There were rumours of soldiers still holding out until the 80s in the Solomon Islands and in 1981 what is believed to be Fumio Nakaharu's hut was discovered in the Phillippines but not the soldier himself.

[@k.b.peterson8022]

There was a Japanese soldier that was found in Guam in 1972. When I was there, I went to see the hole that he had dug and was living in. The Guam Museum has his uniform and his tools. He never knew that the war had ended until 1952, but was afraid to come out of hiding and was eventually found by farmers.

[@theoheinrich529]

As a Filipino, I would like to add more to the last Imperial Japanese soldier that surrendered. Hiroo Onoda was given a national pardon by the president at that time, Ferdinand Marcos, despite the numerous atrocities Hiroo and his fellow soldiers committed against the local populace. But still, I commend their efforts of basically living from scratch with the constant paranoia that the Allies might raid them. Imagine the discipline and commitment those soldiers had, even during dire circumstances.

[@theoheinrich529]

And oh yeah, the Japanese is the largest minority group in countries like Brazil. Most of them are farmers.

[@psychobob35]

Yeah, I’ve never believe the whole ‘He thought the war was still going on’ story. I think he just played dumb so he could get a pardon. At some point in those 20+ years he had to know he had fucked up.

[@kevinconrad6156]

@@psychobob35 He enjoyed being a bandit and should have been punished for it.

[@absoleet]

There was probably some under the table deal btwn the Japanese govt and Marcos for the pardon. Japan has a policy of sweeping their WW2 atrocities under the carpet and plays dumb about the Yasukuni shrine controversy. Imagine the uproar if any European country did the same thing and had a burial shrine honoring the ashes of WW2 Nazi criminals.

[@kevinconrad6156]

@@absoleet It was a above the table deal. Marcos had no shame and neither did hard core Japanese apologists.

[@Schnappi4543]

Mr. Terry makes new intro Everyone liked that

[@GG-mi3bu]

Love the new intro!!!! threw me off at first, though i clicked the wrong video lol

[@fyoloswaggins5203]

An “Intelligence Officer” who missed the biggest intelligence. WAR IS OVER

[@azkabanrolanhoff5569]

to be fair about the leaf lets he was right sometimes the allies actually did resort to those tack tics even in germany

[@aznwhu196]

Keep up the good work! Love the intro scene, the intro phrase and the content.

[@HistoryWithZero]

Love the new intro buddy! Also as a side note, the Japanese indoctrination was insane. I mean, their entire army was taught that they should die rather than risk capture. The Americans who managed to get deeper into Japanese territory found loads of group of bodies of Japanese war-fighters who had shot themselves by pointing their guns at their heads and pulling the trigger with their foot. So it's not a surprise that a high ranking officer was like "Nah, the war's not over" and kept going 30 years after surrender was announced. Sometimes, history is crazier than fiction.

[@LighthouseCape]

In fact he seemed to have known that the war was already over (or at least, knew that Japan was totally occupied by the Allied forces) even without the fliers and search parties, since he had a stolen radio and was able to listen to Japanese news broadcasts whenever he wanted to. He admitted that during those hideout days, one of his hobby was to listen to the Japanese horse races and make bets with the last remaining comrade (the one who was shot by the police and died, while raiding the farm). He also confessed that by listening to those broadcasts, he knew many major events and had the idea of what was happening to his country. However in his interview, he also claimed that he believed that the remnants of Imperial Japanese government and military ran off to Manchuria and still waging war, and the original Japanese homeland (which he was able to pick up the news from) was nothing more than a puppet country. So holding onto the last given order was totally justified for him. Although it is speculated that he totally knew and understood what was really going on, but didn't want to admit it. Plus, it also leads to that he knew he was killing and looting dozens of innocent civilians during peace time, and was trying to avoid being caught and punished as a ruthless killer. I won't say he's a lair or anything like that. It's really a complicated matter...

[@23GreyFox]

He wasn't 100% wrong, Japan and Germany still are American puppets.

[@thelegend8153]

@@23GreyFox pardon?

[@smirglepapier531]

@@23GreyFox wut

[@xNothing2Lose]

Intro is great! Man, i wouldve walked a hour later back like: "uh, what you told me to do?" maybe my bad memory will save me 30 years lifetime some day

[@Michaelly888]

12:48 LOOOOL

[@trollscream8607]

mikey Lol amazing ad

[@foxtrotdelta225]

mikey spoken like a true teacher as well

[@Kaidona]

Reason I know shit like this happened: Archer There was an entire episode with him being stuck on an island with a Japanese soldier who didn't know the war was over and didn't believe it until he looked through bunches of footage and reports of the Japanese surrender with Archer's phone.

[@samcarpenter_]

Been really cool to see the development of this channel! You're becoming better on camera, the new intro looks slick, and as always it's cool to hear your extra little bits of info. Really hope you can ride this wave and keep improving

[@whafflete6721]

The New Intro looks sick! Keeping the great work on!

[@dummy6624]

I mean he followed his orders his orders were to stay on the island until they come to him in person so technically he was just following orders

[@redactedz6146]

Yeah, this guy's long ass stay here in my country was certainly a debate of many things. On one hand, I feel anger and pity for those local families that had lost someone in such a way. On the other, I really can't fully blame him they, as you say, are following "orders" and the strictness they adhere to is part of his stubbornness to take any sort of "unknown" contact so lightly. They being one for having been very disciplined militarily it is no surprise he'd do that. Sucks to see that better outcomes/actions from multiple angles could've played out better, but it is history so that is that

[@P.B.J.A.M]

I like the intro

[@ball8182]

This guy is so wholesome, he actually mentions simple history. Most channels don’t even mention the original channel.

[@jasperdenney6237]

Love the intro man great video also

[@KingAmazon]

Thanks for the reupload, great video!

[@miciso666]

tamaguchi: wait o crap that soldier is the one i ordered to stay we totally forgot. onoda: what am i a joke to you?

[@jonnemikkola6423]

Terry! That intro was AMAZING.

[@VVEmil]

Tfw youre playing on an empty server for xx years that was actually "shut down".

[@qelizabeth_i_5013]

I legit feel bad for that soldier. Without knowing if he himself committed atrocities, he lost 30 years of his life...

[@beeboi6688]

I love that intro!

[@chipchilinkachip910]

Thought I miscklicked and opened the wrong channel. Intro is awesome!

[@daoldman3286]

Mr Terry is honestly amazing, I wish he was my teacher If he comments I would be so happy

[@ximrade4287]

You have some Daddy problems huh?

[@ville06102]

Czech Silesian Mapper :D

[@konuteharato2803]

Hah he is my teacher.

[@ximrade4287]

@@konuteharato2803 Fake News!!!!!!

[@konuteharato2803]

@@ximrade4287 no I'm serious he is

[@RiggsBF]

Did Hiroo Onoda get paid overtime for that?

[@ramseschadtupang9686]

yes... but he donated the money

[@tribuneoftheplebs9948]

Whats funny was that he was not the only Japanese soldier to surrender in 1974 there was another in Indonesia named Teruo Nakamura. There were another two who ended up joing some Malayan guerillas and didnt return to japan untill 1990.

[@Picolinni]

One of the things I see in a lot of comments are misunderstandings of Japanese culture, and also military culture. I have family who live in Japan and one thing that hasn’t changed is the level of discipline. If you are given an order or instruction you will complete it. Add in he was ordered to keep fighting till he was ordered otherwise, he followed the order to the letter. Military discipline also demands that an officer or enlisted soldier obey the order even when all looks lost and are thus ordered to surrender.

[@suwinkhamchaiwong8382]

Good intro!

[@spoils7]

Just caught on to the channel and love the videos. Just wanted to show some support. Like the fact that you are willing to even tell people that you just simply aren't aware of enough information to comment as it shows that you aren't willing to give away bad information just to pretend like you know everything! Would love to see you try Hearts of Iron 4 and comment, though it is a very deep game and can be played by almost any nation in the world leading up to an during WWII, but has a steep learning curve. In all though thanks for the informative videos!

[@demonshooter9863]

Love that intro boii

[@iamReddington]

I'm so glad they mentioned his book. I'm buying that immediately.

[@coolstoryneedsmoredragons4336]

"....because they will not surrender" that is why USA nuked them, twice. i don't condone that type of behaviour but i understand why they did it

[@josephdolman]

The bombing was a misunderstood translation the Japan were willing to surrender before the bombs were dropped but the Americans thought they were being insulted so they caused all that extra destruction for what.

[@andrewhatherall915]

Well Russia and some others literally declares war on Japan 2hrs before, and they were going to potentially surrender but America wanted to test out its new toys and didn't want to scare Russia in the post war stand off

[@AudreySmith-223]

he was born March 19th 1922 and died January 16th 2014

[@maddoxfickes741]

love the new intro!

[@Greg-jq1co]

Love the new intro and keep up the watching the videos which is the ones ive watched.

[@9051team]

Just curious. do any of your students watch your vids?

[@theofficialy1b]

Can you react to the true size of the German army in ww2 by knowledgia

[@fandomcake5158]

Interestingly, also, this guy was from a family that had samurai clan roots. Add that to the fact that he became a Nationalist later in his life after Japan finally ordered him to return is....wooooow.

[@inkheart151]

I heard that other soldiers had the same problem. They were stationed on remote islands and didn’t know the war had ended until they were in their seventies.

[@ProBreaker]

You know that feeling you have, when you leave your house and it feels like you have forgotten something? Tamaguchi had that feeling for 30 years, imagine the frustation.

[@gibbs4730]

Wow the intro is amazing well done well edited

[@yaegerism8834]

I love the intro!!

[@justaj3422]

Remember when mr terry didn’t have an intro?

[@kathrynradonich3982]

Yay a new video 😁

[@robexydelatorres7151]

Indeed

[@m.a.t.a.s]

cool intro!

[@Boggin_]

Wow! Love the new intro!

[@trollscream8607]

Dang look at that clean intro!

[@someartist1908]

"Mad" Jack Churchill: Man, we coulda kept this war going for 10 more years! Hiroo Onoda: Way ahead of you. I'm doing 29.

[@porterclassicbladerunnerfa4749]

This is pretty fitting as I saw the movie Midway earlier tonight.

[@lezgo_]

Love the intro!

[@damenwhelan3236]

Soilders are trained to disconnect. You know this...

[@redzeppelin6]

I'd love to see that rifle he kept working for 30 years without the normal means to clean it. It belongs in a museum along with the sword.

[@justsomeguy4517]

9:13 Ya man they didn't have Internet or cellphones back than!

[@mattwild3510]

The new intro is amazing

[@comradecorki5333]

Much better thank you comrade

[@OP-bb3vw]

The new intro looks awesome 😎

[@RobertGrif]

I love the new intro!

[@TheSucidalpanda]

That moment you get casually pardoned for killing 30+ locals lol.

[@Bonifazius00]

Mr. Terry, I don't know where to post recommendations but I think you would really like Americapox: The Missing Plague by CPG Grey Chances are people mentioned him before, but I really would love to see your reaction to it.

[@joshk4187]

I believe I've read even when our civil war was over there were still a few that didn't stop fighting.

[@Spartan265]

Love the new intro.

[@billsmith4339]

Sad to think that those other guys basically died for no reason cause they still thought there was a war

[@cookieomnomnom1]

I’ll be honest I haven’t really been watching the vids lately (just haven’t even though the topics are interesting) when did you bring a title sequence to your vids?

[@lolikumadesbear1999]

The intro was🔥

[@ice_springtrap8225]

yay a new video

[@Twiska]

This sounds like the plot of First Blood. Not sure about the timing. Was First Blood based of this event?

[@verbfrombonsai8852]

The philippines is not that developed then, especially away from the capital. So indeed information will be slow to get there. But yeah, 30 years is kinda a stretch and you have to be very stubborn if you still stick to it...

[@angel_aeon]

Exactly, especially if the only thing your doing is killing farmers and police and not Americans / Filipino soldiers.

[@MrRochester1206]

I think he is the voice actor from national geographic years ago

[@nightmare8292]

Nice intro man!

[@thebeardman7533]

Mr Terry I was wondering where you give your lessons is it on college or high school

[@bigman2890]

What happened to Akatsu

[@Assdfgresa]

Did he get back pay?

[@earendilthemariner5546]

Can you play the best BFV war stories, Tirailleurs and Last Tiger?

[@devincanada9523]

i found the book written by that Solder and own it i have yet to read it though.

[@iamaspaceman8533]

The intro sounds very Fallout new Vegas love it

[@rurotetsuro9555]

Mr. Terry can the next video be “the insane American plan to invade japan in 1945” by Reallifelore

[@MadTheDJ]

Yeah, read about this guy previously. Cracked did a piece on him, I think. I heard that he wept after his former CO relieved him (correct me if I'm wrong). I'm sure he had thoughts over those 29 years that maybe the "propaganda" was right, but orders were orders and it would mean shame and disgrace on his family if he left his post without authorization. After all, the A-Bombs were dropped, among other reasons, because the Allies knew how devoted the Japanese people were, civilians also, to defending their Empire. There was the very real prospect of Allied soldiers having to wipe out the entire population, battling down every street. So "never surrender" was non-negotiable for this guy, crazy as it sounds to us now. He probable also wondered if he was last true Japanese soldier fighting the enemy after the Japanese military had fallen.

[@reagansmith5288]

That introooooo

[@thedobeymaster2647]

I love that the only editing you need to do is that intro :')

[@egali34]

your intro scared me i thought it was not a react video

[@FongCal]

that's one nice intro

[@jmoll121]

He's patriotic

[@bangscutter]

Onoda is supposed to be specialised in intelligence gathering as part of his training and mission. You would think that he should have realised that the war was truly over, and that the world has moved on, and that all those attempts to contact him were not tricks. Not very intelligent for someone who is supposed to be good at intelligence gathering.

[@remuj6457]

Reupload?

[@MrTerry]

Yes. First upload was really bad. Should look much better now. Thanks!

[@heavymetalrocker79]

I was wondering if you could watch and react to an anime called Huntik secrets and seekers. I wanna know what you think about it and if you think it would be a decent tool to introduce some historical topics in a classroom.

[@ximrade4287]

Eughhh Go away weeb.

[@heavymetalrocker79]

I am allowed to comment and make/ask for video ideas just as you are, you have no right to tell me to go away. And so what if I'm a weeb? I'm allowed to enjoy whatever I want just like you, so stop with the hate.

[@chenrayen]

These guys must have thought they were so special that the enemy would trick them with photos and letters from their own family members just for the 3/4 of them.

[@devilmaycry09dante]

Wow, even an intro now!

[@robexydelatorres7151]

One of the first 3 here

[@cant_giuard_nr5362]

Soldier just didnt know when to quit...Also is this a reupload? Could have sworn I saw this earlier today lol.

[@Mai-po1me]

CanT_GiuarD_NR Maybe you are talking about the christian soldier who refused to use weapons while in war.

[@cant_giuard_nr5362]

@@Mai-po1me Good thought but no i specifically remember watching this earlier today. Unless some mandela effect nonsense is going on.

[@dukatelo]

@@cant_giuard_nr5362 This is a reupload, the previous upload was low quality for some reason.

[@cant_giuard_nr5362]

@@dukatelo thats right the quality was low now that i remember thanks for confirmation.

[@christiangaming-fy6rv]

Nice intro

[@theonewhoeatslemons1931]

For an intelligence officer, he didn't gather a lot of intelligence, did he?

[@jakedakin1]

The One Who Eats Lemons I’m pretty sure that during that era, “intelligence officer” was synonymous with “professional paranoid”

[@MrEd8846]

Yeah most of the holdouts were taken care of in the 50s and 60s but theres been sightings up into the 90s. Although no real evidence has come up from those sightings

[@nicholasbui7288]

You should take a look at some of internet historian's content. He does videos about stuff that happened on the internet. I would reccomend his video on Fallout 76 and his video about someones prediction about the end of the world.

[@roza6025]

All hail to the mint

[@Rosario_Verano]

Two soldiers emerged from the forest in 2005 !!!!!