General Information

This museum stores and displays the documents on the pilots for special attacks, Tokko, who died in the unprecedented suicidal attacks in the battles of Okinawa at the end of WWII, Tokko is the shortened words of Tokubetu Kougeki, which is the attack against the enemy’s warships by the bomb-equipping airplane with the pilot. Tokko is known as Kamikaze in the world.

In December in 1941, a branch of army pilot training school was founded in Chiran Town. As the battle situation got worse, it was changed to Army Special Attack airbase in March in 1945. From these airbases, especially from Chiran base, 1036 young pilots at the age of about twenty years died over the ocean around Okinawa. Chiran Base, the most southern airbase, had the greatest number of deaths, 439. 

Based on this history, we preserve and pass down the remains of the pilots and related documents, appealing to the world that we should never let miserable wars like this happen. We would like to contribute to the realization of eternal world peace by continuing to tell the visitors about how important peace is and how precious our life is. 

This utmost idea is maintained until now in the museum, which was founded in 1987, changed from the former Tokko Remains Center.  

History

Chiran airbase was founded as a branch school of Tachiarai Army Pilot School in Fukuoka Prefecture in December in 1941, when Japan began to have wars against the Allies. Chiran was chosen because it was metrologically and geologically suitable for the airbase and because it was good in the transportation conditions, being a junction place of big roads and having a railroad station. It was on the height about two kilometers away to the south from the center of Chiran Town. It was about 200 hectors large, much larger than today’s regional airports. It had two runways: the main one is 2000 meters long stretched to the northwest and the other is 1500 meters long in the direction of south-north. Both were 350 meters wide. 

Sorties from Chiran Base

At first, Chiran airbase was just a school, but in March in 1945 it was changed to the southernmost Tokko airbase of the mainland, the one nearest Okinawa. Besides Chiran, there were some Tokko airbases in Kyushu as well as in Taiwan ruled by Japan at that time. Among them, Chirain, the southernmost and nearest to Okinawa was the biggest. Out of 1036 dead pilots in Okinawa battles, 439 pilots, about half the number, flew from Chiran airbase.

A Picture for Appeasing the Souls in Chiran

Six Flying Goddesses are saving a pilot from the plane in flame to carry him to heaven. 

Hayate, army fighter type 4

There were 30 Hayate in charge of Flying Squadron 103 in Chiran airbase for guarding Tokko planes or flying in a mission of search-and-attack. 

For the battle of Okinawa, they were used as Tokko planes and flew from Joto and Tudukihigashi bases, but 118 ones never returned. From Chiran, four Hayate flew and two did not returned.

This Hayate plane was repaired by the US military advancing to the Philipines in Janurary in 1945, and it was checked about the functions and sold to private flight museum in America. In 1973, it flew back to Japan, when some Japanese trader bought it. Later, it changed the diplaying places three times, until it reached Chiran peace museum. 

This is the only preserved Hayate in the world.

Hayabusa, army fighter type one, the version 3

Hayate was the main fighter, whose number of production was 5700, next to that of Zero fighters. 

The one in display is the model created for the movie “I will die for you” in 2007.

Navy carried-borne fighter type zero

This zero fighter was hit and sunk 36 meters deep under the sea, away 500 meters away from Koshiki island in May in 1945, and it was salvaged by Chiran government in June in 1980. 

It was seriously damaged because it had been under the sea for 35 years, but it remains parts of the original form. This is the carried-borne fighter type 0 -version 3 of the former Navy, with two 20 mm machine guns and three 13 mm machine guns.

The photos of young Tokko pilots

The photo of 1036 dead pilots are displayed, according to the date of sorties. Under the photos are shown the last letters to the family and friends, the death words and writings. 

War History Room

This room shows how the people in Chiran went through wars from Seinan Rebellion to WWII by displaying the recorded videos and materials. 

-The videos show the last figures of the Tokko pilots from taking off to kamikaze attacks.

-diorama of Chiran base. You can push the buttons to know where each place is located.

-You can watch the witness stories told by several people including Ms. Tome Torihama. 

The photos, last words and last writings

-In the glass window displayed these things along with message Japan flags.

Special Display Room

It shows the explanation about the background history of Kamikaze, the modernized or English translations of the letters form young pilots. These are made easy to read and learn.

Tokko Peace Kannon Statue

This is the replica model of a secret Buddha statue, Dream Changer, in Horyu Temple in Nara. It is 54 cm tall and holds inside the rolled paper with the inscription of the names of the pilots.Dream changer, it is said, can change nightmares to happy dreams to bring peace to this world. 

Triangular Army House

This restored version of a triangular army house, located in the cedar forest beside the museum, is where tokkō pilots would stay until being sent out on their missions. The bottom half of the house was built underground. The tokkō pilots would spend their time here writing short messages as a group on Japanese flags and penning farewell notes and letters to be sent to loved ones back home.