The last notes by Noda Tsuyoshi (major) and Mukai Toshiaki (major), who were accused for the contest to kill 100 people using a sword in the battle of Nanjing
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Noda Tsuyoshi (1912-1948) Major
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I declare to the Japanese people;
I am Noda Tsuyoshi, written on the newspaper that, who competed with Mukai Toshiaki for cutting 100 people. I am ashamed of my joked boast of false violent act that took your time and concerns so much. I apologize you wholeheartedly. I accept a swearword “idiot” that was exactly what I was.
However, I declare that I am innocent in regard of killing prisoners and citizens that was judged by the Chinese court, involving with Nanjing massacre.
I declare again, I did not commit a crime of slaughter of 100 people in Nanjing.
Japanese people, you must believe me.
I don't mind the death penalty to be executed. A tiny life of Noda Tsuyoshi is nothing to Japan.
However, one problem will be remained. That is, due to this case, the Japanese people might keep a grudge against China – that must be avoided definitely.
Upon my death, you must abandon any grudge, vendetta, or avenge.
If you have a common sense you can understand how foolish of bloody fight among neighboring countries in Asia.
I ask you, Japanese people, from now on, overcome the resentment and work for the peace of the Asia as well as the peace of the world, hand in hand with China.
Chinese people are humans and Orientals as like as we are. So if we Japanese act with sincerity the Chinese people must understand. Both of us are Oriental, I believe the cry from my Japanese blood will be understood by Chinese.
Saigo-san (Saigo Takamori) said, 敬天愛人“revere heaven, love people”.
I ask you, love China.
There is no border between love and sincerity.
I, who was sentenced to death by China, could reach the mind to abandon myself to become a tie with China and a human sacrifice for the peace of Asia.
I ask you, Japanese people, please understand this state of my mind that has reached to abandon the resentment against China and achieved a great love.
Do not make my death meaningless.
Doubts and suspicions invite a war. Fortunately Japan has waived weapons. Weapons were proved useless for peace that was shown by god in a way of losing war. If Japan wants to walk on the great road for world peace, she must seek and find the way other than a war by weapons. This must be the most important issue which challenging Japan now.
How can be done this?
The fundamental spirit is “love” and “sincerity”
I send the above two words to the Japanese people for my apology and farewell.
Love of sakura (cherry blossom), Sincerity of Mt. Fuji, Wake up Japan.
Good-by Japanese people.
Listen the cry from Japanese man's blood!
Noda left another note before the execution as follows:
The staff of Chinese court, counsels, Ministry of National Defense, as well as the chairman Chiang, I appreciate your concerns very much sirs.
Except that, I would not accept the crime of killing prisoners and noncombatants. Never.
I accept your death sentence as fate and destiny, on the acceptance of the death I will show you how a Japanese man behaves at the last moment.
I ask you, upon our death, the other suspects will be able to get fair trials. Please do not give a death sentence for the sake of propaganda or political meanings, or give a sentence emotionally for your face, or for the revenge of 8 years war. I pray that you will not judge partially.
We will not blame your country after we are executed at Yuhuatai.
We are pleased if our death will work as a bond between China and Japan, become a foundation of two countries, human sacrifice for the peace of Asia, then will reach the peace of the world. Please do not make our death meaningless. We pray only for that.
China banzai,
Japan banzai,
His Majesty the Emperor banzai.
Noda Tsuyoshi
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Mukai Toshiaki (1912-1948), Major
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The last note:
I swear by heaven and earth, I did not commit killing of prisoners and noncombatants. I would not accept the sin of so-called Nanjing massacre incident.
I accept my death sentence given as fate and destiny and will become a soil of China as Japanese man. However, my spirit will be back to Ooyashima (Japan).
Upon my death, if the resentment of eight years war against China will flow away and the friendship between China and Japan will be established, then the peace of Asia, I am happy to be a dead stone.
Wish for your doing best, China
Wish for doing best, Japan
China banzai
Japan banzai
His Majesty the Emperor banzai.
I will become a demon who protects Japan after the death.
Mukai Toshiaki
Written on December 31, 10 o'clock
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The two men were shot to death on January 28, 1948, at Yuhuatai.
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原文
一 日本国民に告ぐ
私は嘗て新聞紙上に向井敏明と百人斬競争をやったと云われる野田毅であります。自らの恥を申上げて面目ありませんが冗談話をして虚報の武勇伝を以って世の中をお髄がし申し上げた事につき衷心よりお詫び申上げます。『馬鹿野郎』と罵倒嘲笑されても甘受致します。
只、今般中国の裁判に於いて俘虜住民を虐殺し南京屠殺に関係ありと判定されましたことに就いては私は断乎無実を叫ぶものであります。
再言します。私は南京において百人斬の屠殺をやったことはありません。此の点日本国民はどうか私を信じて頂きます。
たとい私は死刑を執行されてもかまいません。微々たる野田毅の生命一個位い日本にとっては問題でありません。然し問題が一つ残ります。日本国民が胸中に怨みを残すことです。それは断じていけません。私の死を以って今後中日間に怨みやアダや仇を絶対に止めて頂きたいのです。
東洋の隣国がお互いに血を以って血を洗うが様なばかげたことのいけないことは常識を以ってしても解ります。
今後は恩讐を越えて誠心を以って中国と手を取り、東洋平和否世界平和に邁進して頂きたいのです。
中国人も人間であり東洋人です。我々日本人が至誠を以ってするなら中国人にも解らない筈はありません。
至誠神に通ずると申します。同じ東洋人たる日本人の血の叫びは必ず通じます。
西郷さんは『敬天愛人』と申しました。何卒中国を愛して頂きます。
愛と至誠には国境はありません。中国より死刑を宣告された私自身が身を捨てて中国提携の楔となり東洋平和の人柱となり、何等中国に対して恨みを抱かないと云う大愛の心境に達し得た事を以って日本国民之を諒とせられ、私の死を意義あらしめる様にして頂きたいのです。
猜疑あるところに必ず戦争を誘発致します。幸い日本は武器を捨てました。武器は平和の道具でなかった事は日本に敗戦を以って神が教示されたのです。
日本は世界平和の大道を進まんとするなら武器による戦争以外の道を自ら発見し求めねばなりません。此れこそ今後日本に残された重大なる課題であります。それは何でしょうか。根本精神は『愛』と『至誠』です。
此の二つの言葉を日本国民への花むけとしてお贈りいたしまして私のお詫びとお別れの言葉と致します。
桜の愛、富士山の至誠、日本よ覚醒せよ。さらば日本国民よ。日本男児の血の叫びを聞け。
死刑に臨みての辞世
此の度中国法廷各位、弁護士、国防部各位、蒋主席の方々を煩はしましたる事に就き厚く御礼申し上げます。
只俘虜、非戦闘員の虐殺、南京屠殺事件の罪名は絶対にお受け出来ません。お断り致します。死を賜はりましたる事に就ては天なりと観じ命なりと諦めて、日本男児の最後の如何なるものであるかをお見せ致します。
今後は我々を最後として我々の生命を以つて残余の戦犯嫌疑者の公正なる裁判に代へられん事をお願ひ致します。
宣伝や政策的意味を以って死刑を判決したり、面目を以て感情的に判決したり、或は抗戦八年の恨みをはらさんがため、一方的裁判をしたりされない様に祈願致します。
我々は死刑を執行されて雨花台に散りましても貴国を怨むものではありません。我々の死が中国と日本の楔となり、両国の提携の基礎となり、東洋平和の人柱となり、ひいては世界平和が到来する事を喜ぶものであります。何卒我々の死を犬死、徒死たらしめない様に、それだけを祈願致します。
中国万歳
日本万歳
天皇陛下万歳
野田毅
辞世
我は天地神明に誓ひ捕虜住民を殺害せる事全然なし。南京虐殺事件等の罪は絶対に受けません。死は天命と思ひ日本男子として立派に中国の土になります。然れ共魂は大八州に帰ります。
我が死を以て中国抗戦八年の苦杯の遺恨流れ去り日華親善、東洋平和の因ともなれば捨石となり幸です。
中国の御奮闘を祈る
日本の敢闘を祈る
中国万歳
日本万歳
天皇陛下万歳
死して護国の鬼となります
十二月三十一日 十時記す 向井敏明
