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War rages on for eight decades: Notable Baseball Player Perishes in Fatal Suicide Bombing Incident

Eight Decades Ago: Youthful Soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Military's Kamikaze Units Launched in Tokyo, August 7th

Tragic Death of Renowned Pitcher in Wartime Self-Inflicted Explosion After 80 Years
Tragic Death of Renowned Pitcher in Wartime Self-Inflicted Explosion After 80 Years

War rages on for eight decades: Notable Baseball Player Perishes in Fatal Suicide Bombing Incident

Shinichi Ishimaru, a renowned professional baseball pitcher, served in the Imperial Japanese military's "kamikaze" corps during World War II. Before his military service, he was a member of the Nagoya baseball club, now known as the Chunichi Dragons.

Ishimaru, born in 1923, was just 22 years old when he was drafted into the military in 1945. He became a Navy pilot and participated in Operation Kikusui, a series of desperate missions launched by the Imperial Japanese military. On May 11, 1945, he departed from Kanoya Air Base in Kagoshima Prefecture, flying towards Okinawa with a 500-kilogram bomb loaded on his plane.

However, there was no signal of attack from Ishimaru, suggesting he may have been shot down or crashed. His plane and fate remain unaccounted for, roughly three months before the end of the war.

Takeshi, Ishimaru's 73-year-old nephew, inherited family mementos and the responsibility for sharing Ishimaru's story from his elder brother, Tokichi. Takeshi expresses that Ishimaru's story is a "cruel story," reflecting the complexities and sacrifices of the war era.

[1] Historical account of Operation Kikusui [2] Biography of Shinichi Ishimaru

[1] While conducting an analysis of sports history, one might find a section on Operation Kikusui, a series of Japanese Naval attacks during World War II, which possibly includes a photo of Shinichi Ishimaru, a pilot who participated in this operation and whose fate remains unknown.

[2] Despite his significant impact as a pitcher for the Nagoya baseball club, now known as the Chunichi Dragons, Shinichi Ishimaru's life took a tragic turn when he was drafted into the military at the age of 22. His career in European-leagues, Serie-A, or any other sports is unknown due to his involvement in the military, particularly in the "kamikaze" corps and Operation Kikusui.

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