Tome Torihama

Tome Torihama (鳥濱 トメ) (June 20, 1902 – April 22, 1992）was the owner of a restaurant called "Tomiya Shokudo" in Kagoshima that served kamikaze pilots before they flew off to war. She is called the "Mother of Kamikazes".

Tome Torihama with kamikaze pilots

Life and career

Torihama and her family

Torihama was born in Kagoshima prefecture on June 20, 1902. When she turned 18, she married Yoshkiyo Torihama. They had two daughters, Miako and Reiko.^[1]

In 1929, Torihama opened the Tomiya Shokudo. When the Chiran Airbase opened in 1942, the Tomiya Shokudo became the designated dining hall for the soldiers living on the base. After the Japanese Special Attack Units were formed in 1945, many of the kamikaze pilots would visit Torihama's restaurant. She became close with many of the young pilots, and would send their final letters to their families for them.^[2][3]

After the war ended, the Supreme Commander of Allied Powers requested to patronize Torihama's restaurant, but she refused. However, when the town had a welcome party for the SCAP at the Tomiya Shokudo, Torihama became close with the American soldiers, some of whom called her "Mama-san".^[4][5]

In 1952, Torihama opened the Tomiya Ryokan for family members visiting graves of fallen Japanese soldiers. In 1955, she built a temple dedicated to the soldiers. In 1975, until her death, Torihama dedicated her life to the Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots.^[6]

Death

Torihama died of heart failure in 1992. After her death, many movies, plays, and books were made about her life.^[7] There were two monuments erected in her honor, one in 1981 and one in 2007.^[8]

Further reading

• Aihoshi, Masako (1992). Hana no toki wa kanashimi no toki: Chiran tokkou obasan Torihama Tome monogatari 華のときは悲しみのとき―知覧特攻おばさん鳥浜トメ物語. Taki Shobo. ISBN 4924752371.
• Akabane, Reiko; Ishii, Hiroshi (2001). Hotaru Kaeru : Tokko Taiin to haha Tome to musume Reiko ホタル帰る: 特攻隊員と母トメと娘礼子. Soshisha. ISBN 4-7942-1060-4.
• Torihama, Akihisa (2015). Chiran inochi no monogatari "Tokko no haha" to yobareta Torihama Tome no shogai 知覧いのちの物語「特攻の母」と呼ばれた鳥濱トメの生涯. Kizuna Shuppan. ISBN 978-4-907072-29-2.