The 30 year war

Hiroo Onoda was a Japanese man who signed up to the Imperial Japanese Infantry in 1940, with the rising of the Pacific front during the later stages of WW2, whereby Allied forces braved the hostile territories of many Pacific islands in the hopes of pushing forward to Japan.

On December 26 1944 Onoda was given the order to travel to Lubang Island in the Philippines, his orders were to try and stop the allied invasion of the island by the use of guerrilla tactics in the hopes to cripple the island’s tactical advantages (mainly a dock and airfield).

His orders were very specific: "You are absolutely forbidden to die by your own hand. It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens, we'll come back for you. Until then, so long as you have one soldier, you are to continue to lead him. You may have to live on coconuts. If that's the case, live on coconuts! Under no circumstances are you [to] give up your life voluntarily."

when the allies eventually captured the island on on February 28, 1945. The majority of Japanese forces had either died or surrendered, however Onoda ordered the other three survivors to escape into the hills of the island.


lieutenant Onoda, alongside Private Yūichi Akatsu, Corporal Shōichi Shimada and Private First Class Kinshichi Kozuka continued to carry out guerrilla warfare on the residents of the island, including burning food supplies and engaged in many shoot outs with local police.

When Japan surrendered in 1945 many efforts to inform Onoda and his men of the ending of the war were attempted, with messages as well as family photos being airdropped onto the island in the hopes of the message reaching Onoda.

However being highly sceptical of the news of the war ending, Onoda continued to evade capture in the belief that the allies were attempting to ‘trick’ him into surrendering.

in 1974 (29 years after the ending of Japan’s involvement in WW2) a Japanese man called Norio Suzuki managed to track down Onoda, who at first refused to come out of hiding until ordered to by a superior officer.

On march 9th 1974, Major Yoshimi Taniguchi who had been Onoda’s commanding officer during the war flew to Lubang to give him the following orders:

In accordance with the Imperial command, the Fourteenth Area Army has ceased all combat activity.

In accordance with military Headquarters Command No. A-2003, the Special Squadron of Staff's Headquarters is relieved of all military duties.

Units and individuals under the command of Special Squadron are to cease military activities and operations immediately and place themselves under the command of the nearest superior officer. When no officer can be found, they are to communicate with the American or Philippine forces and follow their directives.


Onoda was eventually pardoned of his crimes towards Pilipino police under the grounds that he did not know the war was over.