Fighting a Long Lost Cause Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Philippines

The Philippines were under American control at the time of Pearl Harbor, so immediately following the attack, Japan went about taking them over. Japan occupied the islands for much of the war, but the United States held a small airstrip and a pier on Lubang Island. Enter Lieutenant Onoda!

Answer: 3

Onoda, now a Lieutenant, led Yuichi Akatsu, Siochi Shimada, and Kinshichi Kozuka into the hills of the Philippines in order to not be captured by American and Philippine forces. Though many Japanese soldiers committed seppuku (ritual suicide) in such circumstances, Onoda was reportedly given very strict commands not allowing such action by his division commander: "You are absolutely forbidden to die by your own hand.

It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens, we'll come back for you. Until then, so long as you have one soldier, you are to continue to lead him. You may have to live on coconuts. If that's the case, live on coconuts! Under no circumstances are you to give up your life voluntarily."

Answer: They raided local villages and killed cows

It is easy to imagine that local villagers were not exactly pleased when a small group of guerrillas would come into their village and kill their livestock, especially after the war ended in August 1945. By October, they were fed up with the attacks and finally left a note for the men informing them the war had ended.

Answer: The notes were considered an Allied hoax to get them out of hiding, and were ignored

By this time, very little could be done to persuade the soldiers to come out of hiding unless the Japanese army itself came rolling into the Philippines. Since Japan had lost the war and could do no such thing, they could only hope that the soldiers in hiding would believe that the war was over, which Onoda and his three compatriots did not. Apparently, a different guerrilla group had been attacked in the previous few days (most likely by local police or villagers trying to defend their property), so they all believed an Allied force remained on the island.

Answer: He gave himself up to local troops

When Akatsu left the jungle in 1950, he was greeted by Filipino troops and allowed to return home after having been in hiding for about five years. He left a note for his fellow soldiers explaining that the war was in fact truly over, but once again the group believed it was an Allied hoax.

They thought Akatsu had been 'turned' by the enemy and was now working against them, so they became more careful to protect themselves from an expected Allied attack.

Answer: Shimada was fatally shot during a skirmish

In a completely unavoidable tragedy, Corporal Siochi Shimada gave his life for the cause of the Japanese army eight years after it had lost World War II. He was 40 years old. Onoda and Kozuka still believed that it was all part of the Allied occupation of the island, and for the next 19 years lived on their own, sure that the Japanese army would retake the island and free them from their captivity.

Answer: He was shot and killed by a Filipino patrol

In another grave tragedy, Kinshichi Kozuka gave his life for a lost cause over 27 years after the conclusion of World War II. News of the shooting quickly traveled to Japan, and authorities determined that if Kozuka had survived all of this time, then it was likely that Onoda had done the same. Search parties were sent out soon afterwards to look for Onoda, but they all failed.

Answer: He told Suzuki he would only stand down if his commander ordered him to

When Norio Suzuki left Japan, he reportedly told his friends he was "going to look for Lieutenant Onoda, a panda, and the abominable snowman, in that order." Over the previous 29 years, leaflets, letters and pictures from family members, notes from locals, and the note from Akatsu had all tried to get Onoda to come home, but all had failed. It was only when Suzuki made personal contact with Onoda was there a glimpse of hope that he would actually return peacefully to Japan.

Suzuki then set up a meeting between Onoda and Major Taniguchi, who by then had become a bookseller after having retired from the military long before. According to one source, Onoda arrived "in what was left of his dress uniform, wearing his sword and carrying his still-working Arisaka rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition, and several hand grenades." Taniguchi announced that Japan had lost the war and all combat activity was to cease immediately.

Answer: Onoda was granted a full pardon and was allowed to return home

Onoda and his three fellow soldiers had killed 30 people and wounded nearly 100 others while fighting their lost cause. Because they were always under the impression that they were doing so in a war scenario, President Marcos could not bring charges against Onoda and he was granted a full pardon.

Answer: He opened a nature camp for kids to teach them survival skills

After his return to Japan, Onoda was incredibly popular, so much so that people wanted him to run for the Diet. However, he had an understandably hard time adjusting to modern life, and initially followed his brother to Brazil in order to maintain a simpler life of cattle ranching.

He married his wife, Machie, the next year, and they moved back to Japan in 1984. In one of the most appropriate career moves of all time, Onoda established the Onoda Nature School in order to teach kids about survival skills in nature. Using the money he raised from the school, he returned to his home of over 27 years to donate to a local school.

In 2006, Machie Onoda became the leader of the Japan Women's Association.