AMBASSADOR OF GOOD WILL

In 1942, Nobuo Fujita became the only Japanese pilot to bomb the U.S.
mainland in World WarII.

Fujita traveled to the unprotected waters off the Oregon Coast by submari
ne. Hidden beneaththe Pacific, the sub concealed a small plane with folde
d wings. It allowed Fujita and the crewof 100 to approach America unsee
n and undetected.

In the dark, before the dawn, the plane was assembled. A catapult shot F
ujita and the planeinto the sky allowing him to drop two 168-
pound bombs near the small town of Brookings,Oregon.

The town’s natives spotted the plane. But they had no big guns to shoot a
t it, only deer rifles.

Fujita returned to the submarine. The pilot would carry out a similar missi
on three weekslater.

After returning home, Fujita received a hero’s welcome. His bombing hit t
he headlines. OnSeptember 17th, 1942, the front page of the Asahi new
spaper read, “Bomb Dropped onOregon State. First Air Raid on Mainland
America. Big Shock to Americans.”

Fujita was a reserved and humble man. After the war, he never spoke ab
out the raids or ofhis younger brother, who had lost his life in the war.

In 1962, Fujita announced to his shocked family that he had bombed Ore
gon. He alsorevealed he had been invited to the small town of Brookings.
He said he would take his 400-year-old samurai-
sword with him. The sword had been in his family for generations.

Fujita told his daughter he feared the people of Brookings would still be a
ngry with him. Ifnecessary, he planned to commit ritual suicide with his sw
ord in the traditional Japanesemethod of seppuku.
When Fujita arrived at the remote town of 5,400, he was astonished to re
ceive a warmwelcome. He was deeply moved by their hospitality and res
pect. He felt he did not deservesuch affection.

Fujita donated his sword to the town, and it now hangs in the library as a
symbol of his regret.Fujita also gave $1000 to the library. They used it to
buy children’s books about Japan. Thehope was to prevent future war an
d promote peace between America and Japan forgenerations to come.

Fujita made three more trips to Brookings before his death of lung cancer
in 1997. Shortlybefore his death, the Brookings town council hailed him a
s ”ambassador of good will” and an“honorary citizen” of the town.