111-J-1

更生の途へ!!

On the way to recovery!

更生への道

The path to a new life

軍首腦者の言葉を一から十まで信じている人達は未だ日本軍の勝利を夢みているかも知れません。

Those who believe every word of the military leaders may still be dreaming of a Japanese military victory.

併し前線にいる諸君は正直な所、戦争にたいする自信がなくなり不安さが緯々と身に迫っている事を感じているでしょう。

But those of you on the front lines must honestly be feeling the loss of faith in your ability to win the war and the anxiety that is creeping into your hearts and minds.

諸君は今までづつと勇敢に戦って来ましたが武運拙なく今日の様な情ない立場に直面している訳です。

You have fought gallantly for so long, but because of the fortunes of war, you are now facing the pitiful position you are in today.

ここで一つ将来日本ではどうに諸君の一人々々を必要とするかと云う事に就いてよく考えて見てはどうです。

I would like to suggest that you think carefully about how Japan will need each and every one of you in the future.

今のままでは結局無意味に死ぬ以外手がないように考えませんか。

At present, it might seems as if there is no other option but to die meaninglessly.

戦後の日本には諸君が是非やらねばならない仕事がウンとあります。

Yep, there is a lot of work to be done in postwar Japan, and each of you has a responsibility to do it.

然もこの戦争は米軍が琉球列島の最重要地點沖繩島を殆んど完全に占領してしまった現在の狀況から判断してソウ長く続く筈がありません。

Judging from the current situation in which the U.S. military has almost completely occupied Okinawa, the most important island in the Ryukyu Archipelago, this war cannot possibly last much longer.

俘虜にたいする日本軍と米軍の取り扱い方は全然違います。

The way the Japanese and U.S. forces treat prisoners of war is completely different.

米軍は敵味方に不拘、俘虜にたいして日本軍のように馬鹿にするどころか寧ろ最後まで戦った勇敢な生き残りの兵士として尊敬の念さえ持つのです。

The U.S. military, regardless of friend or foe, does not look down on prisoners of war like the Japanese do, but rather respects them as brave soldiers who fought to the end.

目下米軍の保護下にある諸君の戦友達は、米軍の取扱いに本当に満足し、今ではすっかり元気も回復して共同生活を楽しんでいます。

Your comrades-in-arms, who are now under the protection of the U.S. military, are truly satisfied with the treatment they are receiving from the U.S. military and are now enjoying their community life with renewed vigor.

軍首脳者達は戦争後、諸君の生命を左右することは出来なくなります。

Your military leaders will no longer be able to influence your lives after the war.

軍部が日本の社会から消え失せた時、初めて新しい平和な日本が建設される事は疑う余地のない事です。

There is no doubt that only when the military has disappeared from Japanese society will a new, peaceful Japan be built.

その時こそ諸君は、御国の為そして諸君の家族のため、懸命な努力をしなければならないのです。

At that time, you must work hard for the sake of your country and your families.

これが諸君に課せられた最も重大な責任です。

This is the most important responsibility you have.

「死は易く、生は難しい」と古人も言っていますが、この際無謀な考え方は潔く捨て去り前述の重大な責務を果すため何とか生き残る道を講じてはどこですか。

As the ancients used to say, "Death is easy, but life is hard." Why don't you gracefully discard your reckless thinking at this point and somehow find a way to survive in order to fulfill the aforementioned important responsibility?