Of all the senior Japanese naval officers that fought in World War II, Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki produced his diary that was the most definitive narrative of his experiences . His survivors agreed to publish his recollections in a book entitled “Fading Victory: The Diary of Admiral Matome Ugaki.” Of all the sources I used to describe the Japanese perspective of the battles for Guadalcanal, Ugaki’s diary was a rich source of material for my book.

Ugaki had a long, rewarding, and distinctive career in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Born on February 15, 1890 in Seto-machio, Okayama Prefecture to Zengo and Chiku Ugaki, he entered the Naval Cadet School at Etajima on September 11, 1909 and graduated on July 17, 1912. Like many junior naval officers, Ugaki had several at-sea and staff assignments. He became a student at the Naval Staff College in 1922 and graduated one year later. Ugaki served on the Naval General Staff, went to Germany for more study, and returned to Japan to teach at the Naval Staff College. Later, he commanded the battleship Hyuga and achieved flag rank as a Rear Admiral on November 15, 1938.

His career achieved a high point when he became the chief of staff to the Combined Fleet on August 10, 1941 after Admiral Yamamoto took command. He kept that assignment until American fighters shot down the planes carrying Yamamoto and Ugaki over Bougainville on April 18, 1943. While Yamamoto lost his life, Ugaki survived after being seriously injured. He returned to Japan to recover from his wounds in the hospital, promoted to Vice Admiral in October 1943, and then returned to sea on February 25, 1944 as the commander of the First Battleship Division that included the super battleships Yamato and Musashi.

After witnessing and lamenting the sinking of the Musashi at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, Ugaki returned to Tokyo for reassignment. His next command was the leader of Fifth Air Fleet on Kyushu. He organized the Special Attack Corps (Kamikazes) and led the final defense of the Home Islands as the Americans drew near.

After the suicidal tactics did not succeed stopping the Americans, Ugaki decided that Japan would not be the same after the Americans conquered his homeland. He took his command to the Oita airfield on Kyushu. After Hirohito broadcasted his surrender message on August 15, 1945, Ugaki, desolated and utterly saddened, organized the last Kamikaze attack, and joined his pilots in the suicidal mission. He never returned.

An American sailor later found a body with an ornate sword at its side lying on a Kyushu beach. Although no one ever officially identified the body, many believe it was Ugaki. He had served his country with honor and apparently died in the bushido tradition. Historians like me posthumously thank him to leaving such a valuable record of his service. I could have never written my book that included a definitive Japanese perspective without it.

Copyright Kenneth I. Friedman © 2007-2008 - All rights reserved