The Three Alls
The ocean breeze ran across the tops of white caps and current to gently nudge the troopship towards a distant invisible shore. Akamatsu Hideki stood on the deck hugging his rifle close to his body. He shook, but not from the unusually cold wind.
It was more than a few weeks later, but his mind was still on his friend. Mystifying. There was no rhyme or reason to what Shigeru had done. No inquiry was held; no questions asked of Sgt. Hayashi, any of the men, or even him. The incident was simply written up, filed away, and forgotten by the superior officers. Judgement was left to Shigeru’s compatriots.
He was weak…incompetent…good that he committed seppuku…he did the right thing…he died honourably…bushido, the samurai spirit…he completed his duty to the Emperor…he died as a samurai.
Hideki kept to himself, talking to no one. He sought a dark corner to crouch by himself. The act was contrary to his Buddhist way of thinking. Then again, his being in the military was just as contrary. He was raised a Buddhist and was supposed to approach life with compassion, generosity, and understanding. He suddenly realized he couldn’t reconcile his beliefs with worshipping the Emperor who was god, a profoundly Shinto belief.
Hideki spent days deep in contemplation. What glory was there in Shigeru’s suicide? he considered constantly. It was just a dead body lying in puddles of blood.
Others milled about the deck, some with rifles, some without but with backpacks by their feet, all in uniform, if dishevelled. No one is thinking about Shigeru, Hideki thought. Only the future battles existed for them: glory, honour, and a fulfillment of duty to the Emperor and country.
A new mantra was gaining popularity among the troops. From time to time, random groups of men chanted it: Kill All, Burn All, Loot All! Followed by a loud and repeated Banzai!
The Three Alls epitomized the bloodlust the men felt. They ached to fulfill their destiny.
***
Hideki’s eyes casually drifted and landed on a clump of soldiers who weren’t chanting but smoking to pass the time, no doubt. Quite unexpectantly, Hideki thought about the smell of incense as he had entered the locker room. He had not seen any glowing in the darkness. Shigeru had not lit any. Curious. Namu Amida Butsu, he whispered to the wind. I rely on the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life. He wondered if he would get to the point of suicide. His hands shook slightly even if he gripped the wood of his rifle tighter.