WWII Veterans Share Warnings with Younger Generations

The article features interviews with the last surviving soldiers of Imperial Japan's military from World War II. These veterans, like 97-year-old Kunshiro Kiyozumi, a former submarine sailor, were often young teenagers when drafted into a war they did not initiate. They recount their experiences in a brutal conflict that resulted in millions of deaths and widespread atrocities. Upon returning to a defeated Japan, these soldiers found little public interest in their sacrifices, as the nation focused on rebuilding and avoiding uncomfortable questions about its past aggression. The veterans express a desire to share their stories as a warning to younger generations about the devastating consequences of war and blind obedience.