Tokkotai

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The tokubetsu kogekitai (tokkotai) were the units engaged in suicide attacks in 1944 and 1945. Tokkotai missions involved suicide aircraft attacks (also known as kamikaze) as well as midget submarine, glider and other forms of attack. Below are examples of music engaging this history.

Nobunaga: Fragments

Nobunaga Takatomi’s choral work Fragments uses texts written by kamikaze pilots.

Fragments by Nobunaga Takatomi.

Kabasawa: Sea Without Exit

The 2006 film Sea Without Exit about Kaiten submarines featured a soundtrack by Kabasawa Mino. The main theme has become a concert piece as in the performance below.

Naoki Kaiga performs Sea Without Exit by Kabasawa Mino.

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