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Japanese Pearl Harbor Pilot Became a Christian and Found Redemption, New Book Reveals
- Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
- Updated Dec 04, 2024
The pilot who led the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor later came to Christ and befriended an American pilot who once was his enemy, according to a new book whose author says the story has lessons for today's society. T. Martin Bennett's book Wounded Tiger details the unlikely friendship between Mitsuo Fuchida, the Japanese pilot who led the deadly surprise raid on Pearl Harbor, and Jake Deshazer, an American pilot who led bombing raids on Japan. It also reveals how Fuchida became a Christian. The audio version of the book releases Dec. 7, the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor raid.
"This is certainly the most extraordinary historical story I've ever come across regarding World War II," Bennett told Crosswalk Headlines.
The story was so extraordinary, Bennett said, that he wondered if it was even real.
"I thought if this story was special, we'd all know about it," he said. "Well, it's phenomenal, and we know almost nothing about it."
As a young man, Fuchida "hated America and Americans" and was "handpicked" by Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto for the attack, Bennett said.
But once he became a Christian, his perspective on life changed.
"He [formerly] wanted the praise of men and the glory of men. He realized seeking that for himself was being selfish. He realized seeking the glory of God was something greater," Bennett said.
The more Bennett "dug into the story," he said, "the better it got."
"He was in Hiroshima the day before [America] dropped the [atomic] bomb," Bennett said. "[But] he gets a phone call, he leaves and goes to another airbase, and the next day, the city is bombed. His hotel is vaporized. He should have died. He doesn't. He [then] comes back [to Hiroshima]. He walks through radioactive rubble for three days, and then a month later, all these guys are dying, and he has no ill effects from walking through this radioactive rubble. And he had to start thinking, you know, why am I still alive? … That was part of his spiritual awakening."
Fuchida's story is one of redemption, Bennett said.
"It's really not how you begin your life or even how you live your life. It's how you end your life, and in this case, Fuchida was driven by selfish ambition and national ambition and conquering. …But it all went south for them, and it was a horrific disaster for the Japanese people. And, of course, I think a lot of the Japanese people were misled by their government officials who were aggressively attacking undefended enemies -- who weren't really their enemies, but [Japan] wanted to conquer so they would have access to the raw materials. And then, once the war was over, [Japanese] felt very bitter toward their government for misleading them.
"He regretted participating in the war because it was ill-conceived from the very beginning."
The book includes lessons about forgiveness, friendship and love, Bennett said.
Fuchida died in the 1970s.
"Jesus said, 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' Well, we love our own family by default. And I think once we see all people as being part of your family, you treat them differently."
WATCH: Wounded Tiger 4K Sizzle Reel
Photo Credit: © T. Martin Bennett
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
