Yukio Seki - Service in World War II

Service in World War II

Seki saw several naval actions, and participated in a minor role in the battle of Midway as his ship, Chitose, belonged to the second wave of Japanese ships.

In 1942 Seki returned to Japan and enrolled in the Naval flying academy in Kasumigaura, Ibaraki. After basic training he was transferred to Usa, Oita to be trained as a dive bomber operating from carriers. In January 1944 he became instructor in Kasumigaura. Seki became friends with Watanabe family living in Kamakura and fell in love with their daughter Mariko. Once when he was out drinking with his colleagues one of them suggested that all of them should get married on the same day. They all agreed. The same weekend Seki went to Kamakura and proposed to Mariko while her mother was present. Mariko accepted the proposal and they were married May 31, 1944. Seki's mother Sekae was the only relative from his side to take part in the wedding. After the wedding she lived with the young couple for a month and then left saying "Young couples need some time alone". Soon after they moved into a house close to the flying academy.

In September 1944 Seki was transferred to Tainan, a city in Taiwan. He had to leave his wife behind because Tainan was not safe enough for them to go together. Mariko followed Seki to Yokohama to say goodbye to him. Three weeks after he had arrived in Tainan he was transferred again, this time to the 201st flotilla in Philippines as leader of 301st fighter unit. Their base was originally in Nicholas, but was later moved to Mabalacat away from increasing attacks by the Americans.

During this time Vice Admiral Takijiro Onishi had been making plans for the first Kamikaze attack, and Lieutenant Seki was given the opportunity by group commander Asaiki Tamai to lead a special attack squadron that would end in the loss of his own life. Seki is said to have closed his eyes, lowered his head and thought for ten seconds, before saying to Tamai: "Please do appoint me to the post." Seki thereby became the leader of the squadron "Shikishima" which conducted the first official Kamikaze attack, and the first to sink an enemy ship. Four times his group returned to base in aborted sorties.