The Spirit of Himeyuri, the Feelings of Yaeyama -Yaima no Umui-

Former teacher Katsu Kabira, who became Kajimaya this year, looks back on his 90-plus years of life!

The book contains his thoughts about his hometown, Yaeyama, including his experience of surviving the war as a member of the Himeyuri Student Corps, his memories of the 11 schools where he worked for 38 years after the war, and the peace lectures he gave at elementary and junior high schools throughout Yaeyama after his retirement.

●Table of Contents●

In lieu of a preface …………………………1

Ⅰ The origins of katsu
About my parents 13 / Katsu's name 14 / Going to Ishigaki Island 15 / Learning about "tea ceremony" 17 / The Tsujino family's health method 19 / The best snacks 21 / Taking care of your feet 23 / The lady at Inoue Shoten who helped me 24

II. Enrollment in the teacher training program is full of hope
Meeting with a new teacher 29 / First year girls in the senior high school class 31 / Studying in the dark ages 32 / Passing the long-awaited entrance exam to normal school 34 / Dormitory room 35 / Life at normal school 37 / War gradually drew nearer 38 / The news of the order to return to school 39 / Finally arriving at Naha 41 / Naha "October 10th Air Raid" 42 / First damage to the school 44

III. Listen to this tale of a daredevil fight
First outing after graduation 49/Leaving school for another trench 51/Going to the army hospital in Haebaru 54/Graduation ceremony for the older girls in the main course 56/Underclassmen start digging trenches 56/Distributed to the various trenches 58/View of Trenches No. 3 in No. 59/Going to get food 63/Feeding 64/Changing bandages 64/Civilians from Shuri 68/The first casualty among the normal students 69/Burial of the third-degree patients 70/Death of Takahara Yoshi 71/Life in the trenches 73/Moving to the south 75/Death of classmate Oshiro Nobu 79/Going to the trenches in Shimajiri 80/An enemy reconnaissance plane appears 81/Meeting and parting with teacher Itokazu Yomu 83/A major enemy attack, crowds of refugees 84 / Arriving at Ota Cave 86 / Disbandment order 89 / Finally leaving the cave 91 / Escaping with seniors from Yaeyama 92 / Running around in the rain of shells 94 / Water in a water bottle - a lifeline 96 / Places with many casualties 97 / Broadcasts in Japanese from enemy warships! 105 / Being taken prisoner 107 / Iraha POW camp 109 / Not knowing our destination all day, and no food or drink 112 / Registering as a POW 114 / Reuniting with Nakayoshi's uncle and aunt 118 / Meeting Dr. Mekari Hide, who is from Yaeyama 120 / Farewell to my sisters 122 / Life in Nakagawa 123 / Reuniting with Uncle Higashishirokane Hirokazu 126 / Life recuperating in Chinen 128

IV. Return to Yaeyama
Finally to Ishigaki 135 / To Hateruma Island 138 / The shortage of teachers after the war 142 / Entering Okinawa Bunkyo School 143 / Finally becoming a teacher 144

V. Memories of the school where I worked
1 Ishigaki Elementary School…………………………………147
2 Tonoshiro Elementary School…………………………………152
3 Ishigaki Junior High School……………………………………154
4 Ishigaki Elementary School……………………………………159
5 Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School…………………………………163
6. Heishin Elementary School……………………………………169
7 Ishigaki Elementary School……………………………………177
8 Shiraho Elementary School……………………………………178
9 Tonoshiro Elementary School…………………………………184
10. Kabira Elementary and Junior High School…………………………………186
11 Hirakubo Elementary School…………………………………197

Ⅵ Peace lecture (school visit) ……………………201
(1) Ishigaki City Tonoshiro Elementary School
(2) Ishigaki City Yashima Elementary School
(3) Tomigusuku Municipal Nagamine Elementary School
(4) Ishigaki City Yashima Elementary School
(5) Ishigaki City Akashi Elementary School
(6) Ishigaki City Tonoshiro Elementary School
(7) Ishigaki City Heishin Elementary School
(8) Ishigaki City Shinkawa Elementary School and Arakawa Kindergarten
(9) Catholic School Kaisei Elementary School
(10) Ishigaki City Heishin Elementary School
(11) Ishigaki Municipal Makira Kindergarten
(12) In Osaka
(13) Ishigaki City Makira Kindergarten
(14) Ishigaki City Shiraho Junior High School
(15) Ishigaki Municipal Makira Kindergarten
(16) Okinawa Prefectural Yaeyama Special Needs School
(17) Ishigaki Welfare Association, Social Welfare Corporation, Yashinomi Nursery School
(18) Yonaguni Town Yonaguni Junior High School
(19) Ishigaki City Tonoshiro Elementary School
(20) Ishigaki City Miyara Elementary School
(21) Ishigaki City Ishigaki Junior High School
(22) Yonaguni Town Hikawa Elementary School
(23) Ishigaki City Heishin Elementary School

Conclusion …………………………………………214

[Additional Note] About my mother
My mother’s laughter echoes throughout the house………………………………………………………………………………………………………225
A mother who is positive about everything ……………………… Keiko Ohama (second daughter) ……………228
My mother’s honesty……… ...

Katsuka Kabira (and Eiken) Chronology 222
Photo source/provided by 224
Citations and References 236
Editor's Note (Itsuko Kawahira) 238

Author

Kabira Cutlet

Born in Ishigaki City in 1928 (Showa 3).
In 1943, she entered the preparatory course for women at the Okinawa Prefectural Normal School. In March 1945, she was mobilized as a nurse to the Army Hospital in Haebaru, where she witnessed the devastation firsthand.
On June 18 of the same year, he was ordered to disband, and wandered the battlefield, was taken prisoner, and spent time in a camp. In June 1946, he returned home after a year and nine months. In April of the following year, he began teaching in Ishigaki City, where he worked for 38 years. After retiring, he opened his long-cherished dream of a tea ceremony class.