No.6 Document Title：Doll - made and written by young female students in Gunma Pref.-
Document photo
Document Information
| Material model | Doll | Remarks | Two local girls in Gunma prefecture presented this doll to second lieutenant Akira Hosoki, 22-year-old tokkō pilot. |
|---|---|---|---|
| quantity | 1 | ||
| Medium | cloth, brush | ||
| size(cm) | 15×15 | ||
| Creation date | 1945 |
Related kamikaze member information
| Name(Sex) |
Second Lieutenant Akira Hosoki(M) | Post-war class | Second Lieutenant |
|---|---|---|---|
| age | 22 | Sortie base | Nyutabaru |
| Birthplace | Unnan City, Shimane Pref. | Airplane | Tachikawa Ki-36 |
| Home school | Unit name | The Makoto 36th Squadron | |
| Date of death | April 6, 1945 | By period of origin | The 9th Graduate from Flight Crew Training School |
| Remarks | |||
Contents
This particular artifact is a “mascot” doll handcrafted by young female students.
The symbolic significance of the subject matter is that its creator wishes to show solidarity with the soldier recipient’s cause (and fate) by accompanying him into battle (even if only in doll form). Wartime photos often show tokkō pilots with these dolls directly attached to their flight suits or person, or hanging from a cockpit area item such as a canopy release latch.