Yamashita’s Last Words
Posted by noelbynature under Uncategorized
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We usually remember General Yamashita Tomoyuki for his ferocity, in his role for spearheading a lightning-fast attack of Malaya and Singapore in the course of World War II and conquering the “impregnable” Fortress Singapore. If’ve you’ve been to Reflections at Bukit Chandu or Memories at Old Ford Factory, one of the lasting images of General Yamashita has been the film at the surrender conference where the General forcefully (with hand chopping the table) dictating the surrender terms to the beaten Percival.
Photo courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore
Researcher Yuki Tanaka sheds a different light on The Tiger of Malaya in an article in the e-journal Japan Focus where she reflects on the character of General Yamashita. His final words (which are published in the article) grapples with his complicity in the atrocities of war, but also articulates a surprising about the special role of women has to play in raising a society that values peace.
It is remarkable that half of his final words were addressed to women. Here we can discern Yamashita’s hope that the new Japanese society should be built on the principles of women, not those of men, specifically power and violence. His statement that “the driving force of peace is in the heart of women” sums up his thoughts on this issue. He was surely that rare person amongst Japanese military leaders who was able to see the fundamental link between war and male violence. He came to hold the view that women should play more important roles in building peace, especially in the field of education. I am not sure how he overcame his own patriarchal beliefs in the eight months between his surrender and execution. During the conduct of his trial, something must have occurred that led him to dramatically change his views on gender and society, and indeed on war and peace.
Read the full article Last Words of the Tiger of Malaya, General Yamashita Tomoyuki.
Tags: singapore history, singapore heritage, singapore, WWII, world war II, world war 2
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(4) Comments
Posted by: py
Posted on: August 18th, 2006
Insightful article that you have linked to. Thanks.
Posted by: Tan Wee Kiat
Posted on: August 21st, 2006
Thank you for sharing this very interesting article about General Yamashita. Incidentally, you mentioned "one of the lasting images of General Yamashita has been the film at the surrender conference". Readers may like to know that this surrender scene is shown on a Singapore stamp issued in 1999. Readers may also like to know that the Japanese surrender is also shown on a Singapore stamp issued in 1995.
Posted by: amps
Posted on: August 21st, 2006
fascinating article - thanks!
Posted by: Cal Pipher
Posted on: March 3rd, 2010
He didn't change in the last months of his life, rather he had this opinion in his heart. Don't be fooled by his nickname "the Tiger of Malaya" one of the misunderstood events was when talking with Gen. Percival he became angered because his own man was having extreme difficulty in interprettting Yamashita's simple question to Percival. My father was in charge of general Yamashita at the war crimes trial and said he was a very good man with a strong sense of morals.
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