萬晩報の「上原良司氏のメッセージ所感」がきっかけで、ワシントンの友人であるヒュー・ヤングさんとレイコ・ヤングさんのご夫妻が上原良司氏の自由主義思想に興味を持たれた。ヤングさんは国務省を定年退職された元外交官である。
現在、アメリカは軍事戦略だけでは答えを見出すことができない複雑な「イラクシンドローム」に陥っている。人間の本性として自由の普遍性を主張する上原良司氏のメッセージは、宗教間の亀裂が致命的となりつつあるイラク問題への新たなるイラク平和戦略としてのヒントになるように考えられる。
上原良司氏の愛読書クローチェの哲学書の中に「かくいまわれわれにとって記録であるところの多くの歴史の部分、いまは口をひらかない多くの古文書は、その時に会えば、新しい生の光にみちてふたたび口を動かすに至るであろう。」という文章がある。
ふと、上原氏の所感は、太平洋戦争が生み出した傑作ではないだろうかと考えてみた。何百年後にも残っているように思う。なぜなら、これ程、シンプルに全体主義を否定し、純粋に自由主義のありがたさを語った文面はないと思うから。それも、戦争末期、軍隊生活を経て、特攻隊の出撃前夜に祖国のことを思い描いたメッセージは、二度と生まれないように思う。
奇跡的に検閲を免れた上原良司の「所感」は、戦後6１年を経た現在、日本のためのみならず、世界への重要なメッセージを秘めているように思われてならない。それを伝えるのが我々に与えられら平和のための任務ではないだろうか。
以下、アメリカの関係機関に送る予定の説明（英訳予定）とヤング夫妻が翻訳された「所感」である。
（以下翻訳予定）
たった一人だけ「日本が負ける」と言った人がいました。上原大尉でした。特攻の母として慕われた鳥浜とめさんの談話の一片である。
特攻隊員、上原良司氏は、出撃前夜に「所感」を綴った。この偽りのない文章の中に、ファシズム、全体主義を否定し、自由主義の普遍性が明確に描かれている。
「自由の勝利は明白な事実だと思います」との上原良司氏の自由主義者としてのメッセージは、戦後61年を経た現在にも耳を研ぎ澄ます価値があると思われる。とりわけ、テロ戦争、アフガン戦争、イラク戦争といった新しいタイプの戦争に悩むアメリカへの一抹のメッセージになると思われてならない。
さらに、自由の普遍性がファシズムや全体主義に打ち勝ったように、上原氏の所感の中から読み取れる人間の本性たる自由思想は、イラクで起こっている宗教間の闘争への妙薬になると考えられる。
特攻隊の行為を美化するのではなく、純粋に敵国でありながらアメリカの自由を信奉した特攻隊員が存在したという事実を伝えたく思う。そして、願わくば戦争や紛争の不調和を正し、自由思想を通じた和解や調和の一助となることを願いたい。
所感 http://www.geocities.co.jp/Hollywood-Studio/1715/syokan.swf
Kamikaze
Thoughts by Lieutenant Ryoji Uehara
Born September 27, 1922
Graduated from the Department of Economics, Keio University
This was written by him the night before the assault.
I feel deeply honored and privileged to have been chosen to become a member of the Army’s “Special Attack Corps,” which embodies the glory of Japan. Having delved deeply into logic and philosophy at my university, what I am about to say can be described as the ideology of liberalism. What is obvious to me is the inevitable triumph of liberty. An inherent and essential element of all humans, freedom cannot possibly be destroyed. Even though at times such feelings may be suppressed internally, they are constantly fighting to emerge and will eventually prevail. This is a belief and truth stated by the Italian philosopher Benedetto Croce.
It is a clear fact that authoritarian and totalitarian governments may at times flourish; but ultimately they will be defeated. We can see the truth of that when observing the governments that are playing leading roles in the world war, as manifested by the defeat of Fascist Italy, not to mention Nazi Germany. Authoritarian governments are disappearing one after the other, crumbling like buildings without a foundation. The universality of this truth is now being tested by reality. Just as history has shown in the past, liberty will once again prevail and flourish.
These beliefs that I hold may turn out to be catastrophic for my homeland; but the fact that what I have believed in all along has proven correct gives me nothing but satisfaction. Today’s struggle, whatever form it may take, stems from differences in ideology; and the result is predictable on the basis of those belief systems. Thus, the ambition of having my beloved Japan become a mighty empire like that of Great Britain must remain unfulfilled.
If the leadership positions in Japan had been held by those who truly love Japan, my country would not have been driven into the situation it faces today.
My dream was to be a person able to take pride in being a Japanese, no matter where one may be in the world.
What one of my friends once said is true: a pilot of the Special Attack Corps is merely a mechanical instrument. He just steers the apparatus. He is only a molecule within a steel device intended to stick fast to an enemy aircraft carrier, possessing neither personality nor emotions.
If one thinks about it rationally, this act is incomprehensible. These pilots are simply suicidal. This is a phenomenon that occurs only in a country such as Japan, a nation that places so much emphasis on the spiritual aspect of life.
Since I am nothing but a machine, I have no right to state my case. I only wish that the Japan that I dearly love will someday be made great by my fellow citizens.
In such an emotional state, my death may accomplish nothing. Nonetheless, as I stated at the outset, I feel quite honored to have been chosen to be a member of the Special Attack Corps. True, once inside an aircraft, I am a mere instrument; but when not aboard, I do have emotions and passion.
When the woman for whom I cared so dearly passed away, I died with her, emotionally. I believe that she waits for me in Heaven, where we will be reunited. Death does not frighten me, because it occurs as part of the process of going to Heaven.
Tomorrow is the day for the assault. My motivation is highly unorthodox, so it is not worthy of public notice. I just wish to express the true feelings inside me. Please forgive me for my disorganized thoughts. Tomorrow a man who has always advocated the values of freedom and liberty will depart from this earth. Although he may appear forlorn, he is in fact very content.
Once again, please forgive my rambling.
Date of death: May 11, 1945
Among his effects left behind was a book on philosophy written by Benedetto Croce. In the book there were markings here and there. When one strings together the characters so marked, it reads as follows: “Goodbye, my beloved Kyoko. I loved you so much; but even then you were already engaged, so it was very painful for me. Thinking only of your happiness, I suppressed the urge to whisper into your ear that I loved you. I love you still.”
(Translated by Hugh and Reiko Young, Jan.2007)
中野さんにメール nakanoassociate@yahoo.co.jp
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