Interviewing Former Kamikaze Pilots

Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, the author of Danger’s Hour: The Story of the USS Bunker Hill and the Kamikaze Pilot Who Crippled Her, discusses his experiences interviewing surviving kamikaze pilots (and how he annoyed the heck out of both his interpreters and the pilots – AUDIO ONLY-):

You can watch/listen to the full interview here.

A note to the interpreter who quit because Mr. Kennedy made him ask for extra ketchup at McDonald’s: You are a lazy bastard. McDonald’s Japan is always okay with responding to requests for extra ketchup packs, and I’ve seen Japanese people ask for it. If you’re worried about having to ask twice, ask for a specific number of packs (四つ should be enough).

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5 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - August 19, 2010 at 8:03 am

Categories: Books Tags:

http://romeocorpen.wordpress.com/ John M. Andresen

Failed interviews with failed Tokotai pilots. Failed in the sense that they did not carry out their mission. Imagine that. All dressed up to go to the party and then it gets cancelled at the last minute, What a pity for them. They must have been feeling very unfulfilled all these years. But one wonders why they would agree to interviews if they didn’t want to be interviewed. The interpreters are supposed to be transparent. If they won’t do whats asked then fire them and get someone who will. I’m sure that Mr. Kennedy will become quite despondent when he reads that he is not held in high regard by Japan Probe.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

I’m sure that Mr. Kennedy will become quite despondent when he reads that he is not held in high regard by Japan Probe.

Did you even listen to the audio clip? The man says he was a “very irritating interviewer”, and I don’t see how sharing a couple of his anecdotes shows a lack of regard for Kennedy’s work.

Magus

I know for sure I’ve asked for extra ketchup more than once at McDonald’s. When I’m hungry and get a large fries, ONE ketchup packet isn’t going to cut it, and they should surely know that a large fries deserves more ketchup than a small one (both come with one ketchup packet).

The most fun was one time when the syrup was running out of their Coke. I took my drink back and said it’s watery and the syrup is low, can I get a different one? They begrudgingly dumped mine out and got another Coke… from the same dispenser. I tasted it right there and said it’s the same problem, the syrup is running out and it tastes like water. It really got them frizzled when I then asked for Sprite instead (but I ordered Coke! How could they then get me something else?).

Sometimes Japan is silly.
Hal

My grandfather was on that boat when that happened. Interesting.
Robin

The McDonalds ketchup request was CLEARLY a joke.

Interviewing Former Kamikaze Pilots

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