The Redemption of Yamamoto Ichiro: From Hell to the Pure Land

This interview was recorded on February 17, 2023, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. The subject is Yamamoto Ichiro, a former Japanese soldier and prison guard who served in Taiwan during the occupation. After a life marked by the violence of war and subsequent decades of atonement, he sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, having been liberated from the cycle of retribution.

Yamamoto Ichiro speaks:

"I never once imagined that I would one day arrive in such a luminous, radiant place. It feels both deeply familiar and strangely new to me. When I look upon the Buddha standing before me, I am overcome with a profound sense of emotion, and I find myself longing to shed tears of gratitude. I cannot fully explain why I have this overwhelming feeling, but a deep, intuitive sense tells me that I have been here before in a distant, forgotten past. Returning to this sacred place now, it feels as though an eternity has passed since I last stood in such light. This place is the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Here, all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are gathered in perfect harmony, and every single Buddha radiates such boundless compassion. I owe everything to Practitioner Su, who reached out to guide me to the West, and I am also eternally grateful to my wife from that lifetime, who first introduced me to the teachings of the Buddha.

A Collective Deliverance

Today is a truly momentous and joyous day for me. On behalf of the fifty-nine other prison guards who were reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss alongside me, I wish to express my deepest, most sincere gratitude to Practitioner Su for his tireless efforts to save us.

I am Yamamoto Ichiro, a Japanese man. To speak clearly of my era, I was a soldier in the Japanese Imperial Army sent to invade Taiwan. When our fleet first arrived in Taiwan, I felt a deep, gnawing sense of unease in my heart. However, our high-ranking commander told us that as soldiers of the Great Japanese Empire, we had a solemn duty to expand the empire's territory. We were strictly forbidden from retreating, and those who disobeyed were to be executed on the spot. I did not know what would happen during this journey to Taiwan, but deep down, I had absolutely no desire to harm anyone.

The Occupation and the Resistance

After stepping onto Taiwanese soil, we were assigned to different regions to familiarise ourselves with the local people, the rugged terrain, and the natural resources. Under our strict rule, we were tasked with ensuring the Taiwanese people were entirely obedient. We sought to maximise the value of the resources we developed, exporting them so they could support the island and even become precious imported goods abroad, earning us admiration and wealth.

To transport resources from the inland areas, we built extensive railways and used trains to move goods. Consequently, various branch lines began to emerge across the landscape, forever altering the face of the island.

The Taiwanese people were not as easy to subdue as we had initially imagined. Those living on the plains viewed us as foreign invaders and often launched small, sporadic protests or held secret meetings to sabotage the resources we were harvesting or transporting. When we moved into the mountainous regions, we expected a more peaceful development. Unexpectedly, a group of people, almost entirely naked and holding sharpened wooden sticks, attacked us upon seeing us. We were caught completely off guard, and several of our brothers were wounded. When we finally reacted, one of my brothers shouted, 'Fire!' The mountain forest was instantly filled with loud, thunderous bangs, and several people lay on the ground, covered in blood. More people appeared in the forest, and in the confusion, we retreated, intending to regroup and launch a counter-attack.

The Strategy of Assimilation

Our Japanese forces used superior weaponry and brutal suppression to bring many areas under our jurisdiction, and my brothers had already taken many Taiwanese lives in the process. To further force the people into submission, the Japanese Empire sent people to establish schools in Taiwan, intending to use education as a means of assimilation and brainwashing.

Before this, we occupied existing schools. Teachers who were willing to stay had to undergo Japanese educational training and integrate Japanese ideology. Those who refused were sent to concentration camps for forced labour, and those who resisted were executed. It was a dark time, and the atmosphere was thick with fear.

Our unit was assigned to be responsible for one of these regions. When my brothers entered the primary school, many students screamed in terror. The teachers stood in front to protect them, but I could see the panic and fear in their eyes. It was a sight that would haunt me for years to come.

A Connection Beyond Borders

We gathered the teachers in one area and the students in another, letting Taiwanese people who had surrendered to Japan communicate with them to gauge their willingness to cooperate. Among the many teachers, I noticed one woman whose gaze was incredibly firm; it was clear she was a person of great integrity. I assumed she would choose not to stay, as this school was about to be owned by Japan.

Although we did not share a language, I could feel her intense desire to protect her students. She stayed not for her own life, but to shield the students and the school; she wanted to make an effort from within. It felt natural, as if I could perceive the thoughts in her heart. This teacher would not even look at us Japanese; in her heart, she resented us for occupying their land.

I became the temporary administrator of the schools in this region, doing my best to ensure they retained some space for their own teaching. I hoped to integrate with the Taiwanese people through sincerity, even though many of my subordinates opposed this. I persisted. I knew I might be betrayed by my men in the future, but I was not afraid; I did my best to do what I could. I also began to learn some simple Chinese, hoping to bridge the distance between us.

The Burden of Duty and Love

I managed several schools for a few months, and everything was relatively calm. Then, one day, a superior came to inspect the schools and discovered that I was not 'Japanising' them enough, so he forcefully demanded that I change. Under that power, I had no choice but to obey. When the new policies were implemented, several teachers began to voice their opposition. The first to approach me was that teacher, Yin Meiwen. She looked at me with fearless eyes and asked me not to do this. With a sincere heart, I explained my predicament to her, telling her that if I did not comply, I would be transferred, and I did not know who the next administrator would be—if they were too aggressive, the students would be harmed.

Teacher Yin was a reasonable person. She knew I was sincere and worked with me to reduce the harm of the Japanese policies on the teachers and students. Together, we helped many teachers, parents, and students understand and cooperate. In the process of this collaboration, I knew I was deeply attracted to Teacher Yin, and I was certain she had developed feelings for me. But a Japanese man and a Taiwanese woman—it was destined that we would not be accepted or blessed.

Yet, this relationship was profound and precious. I did not know what difficulties we would face in the future, but I cherished every day I spent with Meiwen.

A Lifetime of Atonement

Time passed, and I travelled back and forth between Taiwan and Japan for twelve years. When the Second World War ended and the Japanese military was ordered to withdraw from Taiwan, I was urgently notified to pack up and leave. Everything happened too quickly. I ran to Meiwen as fast as I could, proposed to her, and told her I would come back for her. Meiwen knew there was no time to consider, so she nodded in agreement. I left my contact information in Japan with her, and she watched me leave with reluctance.

During the time I was away from Taiwan, Meiwen and I stayed in touch through letters. After I settled everything in Japan, I quietly returned to Taiwan two years later and brought Meiwen back to Japan. When she first arrived, she was not used to it, but she was optimistic and cheerful, always willing to help others. I accompanied her to many rural villages to care for the elderly; she was happy when they were happy. Meiwen also had a spiritual pillar because she was studying Buddhism.

The bloody, cruel scenes of the Japanese persecuting the Taiwanese people remained in my memory. I always wanted to make amends to the Taiwanese people, so every year I donated money to Taiwan to help with construction and economic development. Seeing Taiwan develop better and better brought me great comfort. I continued to donate until the day I died. This was my way to atone for my past sins.

Meiwen knew about this, and she was very happy that I did so. We spent over twenty years together until I died of pneumonia at the age of fifty-four.

The Path to Deliverance

After death, I arrived in the underworld and met my karmic creditors. I repented in my heart. Because I had been forced to harm the Taiwanese people, I still had to repay my debts. I was sent to the hell of amputation to suffer retribution. After suffering, my sincerity moved the King of Hell, who granted me the position of a prison guard.

During my time as a guard, I saw many spirits coming to suffer retribution. Many paid the price for their personalities, their pursuit of power, fame, and status. My heart was filled with great lamentation. While I was serving in hell, Practitioner Su's Dharma talks reached every corner of the underworld. Only then did I calm down to listen to the teachings, understand the Truth, and realise that one should seek liberation in this life. I began to learn to chant Buddha's name, reciting it into my heart-fields, one phrase after another. Finally, I waited for this magnificent opportunity for deliverance today. I am grateful to the Buddha, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo."