 Aloha, good morning. Welcome to Stacey to the Rescue. I'm here today with a person who actually did rescue people during World War II in the Battle of Okinawa. He is Herbert Yanamura, who saved the lives of over 1,500 people in the battle in the village of Mahira and also Alex Bocaery, film director. Thanks guys for coming in. No problem. No problem. So let's talk about the film. Well actually I'll give people a little bit of background since full disclosure I produced these two films so obviously I think that it's an important story that we need to share. So he actually was in the 442 but he had very good language skills. So he went to the Military Intelligence Service and those guys were all over the Pacific. They were highly classified and General Willoughby, who was second in command to General McArthur, credits them with saving over a million lives and shortening the war in the Pacific by two years. So yes, they did a lot to save lives. Her story in particular is so ironic and touching because Mr. Yanamura was all over. They almost got killed by a Kamikaze pilot who crashed into the LST next to them. But as I mentioned earlier in the Battle of Okinawa, it was towards the end of the battle that they had a ceasefire and so the citizens of Okinawa were committing suicide and so in instances the Japan Army was giving them grenades and also giving them potassium cyanide to basically end their lives. And so what Herb did and other linguists, he went on the loudspeaker and he broadcasted and he said, you know, come out, we'll guarantee your lives. We have food, we have clothing, we have medicine and so you should just come out and so that's how he saved the lives of over 1500 people. They heeded his call. And so the film, which I'm not sure we're going to get to show you, but hopefully we will, there are two films that we made about Herb and one is a documentary and that was done two, three years ago. So what happened was the museum in Okinawa had an exhibit about the ties between Hawaii and Okinawa and how it was really the Hawai'i Okinawans that came to the aid of Okinawa. They sent pigs, they sent goats, clothing and then and so there are a lot of these veterans in the exhibit and one of them was Herb. And so the curator, Kunugi, he said, you know, we found a woman that Herb saved and she remembers him and they're going to meet for the first time next month and I was like, what? We need to bring a camera crew back and we need to shoot this because, you know, I knew that the Okinawa media and the Japan media would cover it but really, you know, Herb is an American and America really needs to know this story. Yeah, so why don't we talk about that a little bit? So how did that feel, Herb? Sounds alright. It's a good reminder of what actually happened and your resume was very well done. So taking the film around, I mean, it premiered at HIF, the Hawai'i International Film Festival last year and then we showed the documentary in San Francisco earlier this year and then the Surrender Call which is a short film. Won Best Hawai'i Short on the Big Island at the Big Island Film Festival. That was pretty cool. Well, Herb, you're the veteran. What do you think of all this? Well, I don't know how to say it but I think perhaps as long as the interest in World War II continues on, I think these stories of actual events would have a rather significant part in it, I think. So in my case, for example, I was able to rescue a whole lot of people in Okinawa and evidently that meant a lot for our operations. I know Major Teague who was next to me while I continued to make the Surrender Appeal to the people of Okinawa was very impressed. I mean, the Major, this was the first time he ever saw anything like this happen in combat and he was very impressed with my talk over the PA system where we use a loudspeaker. I use the microphone and how effective it was and it really pleased him to no end. So I was very thankful for the opportunity to make this appeal to the people of Okinawa. Cool. And then how did it feel to see your story brought to life? That's what we're watching. Yeah, I thought it was very nice of you both to put it together into a very good film. You made a couple of films actually. I thought that was very nice. Right, so Alex, what was your biggest challenge? Well, getting into this project, when you asked me to film the reunion between Herb and the people he saved in Okinawa, of course I was excited. It's an amazing story and I immediately wanted to tell it. But then once we sat down and started interviewing you, our interview time was probably about three hours worth of material and we looked at each other and we were like, okay, there's so much more here and this deserves a bigger story and at least another more dramatic telling of the film because the way you described it and what we were able to capture in Okinawa, I don't think totally captured how incredible the story actually was. So from the time we had a conversation about making a film, to making the film was probably about three months and it was very compressed but I think the final product came out great and actually, I wanted to ask you, how did you feel seeing it in a movie theater on a big screen with everybody there? What was that like? So, Preface, we showed Herb a rough cut of this one that you're seeing right now but I really wanted him to see the documentary for the first time because that's you, right, Herb? On a big screen. Yeah, hundreds of people. So how did that feel? Well, I don't know how to say it but rather unexpected to begin with but the part that really touched me was to meet this woman, Hatsuko who was ten years old at the time I made the Surrender Appeal over the PA system and she had heard my voice and she claimed she didn't really understand what I was saying because she was only ten years old but she remembered my voice and she said she was so thrilled to have the chance to meet me. So we finally met about three years ago in Okinawa and that was a very touching moment to see this girl. She was ten years old back in 1945 but some six to eight years or so later we got to meet each other and that was very touching. Did you expect to see all the media there? I mean, everyone was there. It was a big crowd. I didn't really expect it because, of course, I don't know maybe I had some hints from you or somebody that they were going to be there to record this event or something but the moment that was most touching of course was to meet this woman for the first time. She was one of the hundreds or thousands that were saved during my Surrender Appeal. And you also met a man who was a young boy in the Teketsu Kinotai the Emperor's Iron Blood and he was for it. Right, he remembered your call but he couldn't surrender otherwise they would have shot him. The name was Oshiro. Oshiro, Mr. Oshiro. And then there's another one who you called in too. There was an Oshiro, that's right. Yeah, that's right. Tooroku, I think it was his name. Tooroku Oshiro, right? Cool. Actually, let's take this opportunity to go to a break and we'll be right back with Herb Yonimura and the Balabokinawa. Aloha, I am Reg Baker and I am the host of Business in Hawaii with Reg Baker. We broadcast live every Thursday from 2 to 2.30 in the ThinkTek Studios in downtown Alululu. We highlight successful stories about businesses and individuals and learn their secrets to success. I hope you can join us on our next show on Thursday at 2 o'clock. Until then, aloha. Aloha. This is Stacy to the rescue and we are here today talking about a two films actually based on, well, a documentary which is about Herbert Yonimura who saved 1,500 people in the Battle of Okinawa and Surrender Call, which is a dramatic short reenactment type of film about that. So we're back with Herb and Alex. Alex is the director of the Surrender Call. So Herb, tell me, okay, so we've taken these films to schools and kids have seen this and you've seen their reaction. They're very happy to meet you. How does that feel? Well, personally, I don't know how to take it because I personally don't feel all that great about my activities or what I did during the war, but if the audience with the school children and others find it interesting to listen to my story, I'm happy for that. Yes, that some of these activities that I was involved in had some meaning to the people. Right, exactly. And that's what I wanted to accomplish with these films. Most people don't know these stories and a large part of that was because the military intelligence service was classified. Yes. I mean, they actually told you not to talk about it. Oh, yes. Right? So how did that feel? Yes, so I think that you hit the point. I mean, it was not well known about what activities we were involved in combat, but now that it's open and people have the chance to appreciate the efforts of the MIS in the war. So that's great, I think. Yes. And Alex, what does it mean to you to be able to tell these stories? I think since I haven't been involved in this sort of work my entire life, this is something I've taken on recently to hear these stories and realize that none of this was a part of the curriculum that I went through in school. Even the issues of 442 were just barely, barely touched on. You know, meeting you and meeting the other vets, it's become so clear that this is something that needs to be remembered and something that needs to be honored properly and in a way that my generation can understand the things you guys had to struggle with. And so for me it's become something that I need to help in any way I can to get the word out to make sure your story isn't forgotten. So it's very nice of you. And I think, you know, this is the sort of experience that we want to replicate with other vets' stories going forward, Stacey and I. I don't know if you wanted to comment on that. Oh, right. Well, this is some footage of there's Herb and the woman he saved at school. But yes, it's so important to share these stories because, you know, we don't have too many of you with us still, you know, and I've always said that, you know, it's best to hear the story from the horse's mouth and while, you know, there is a short film which is a dramatic reenactment, you know, that gets to people in a different way emotionally. And then a documentary, of course, is very powerful because people see, whoa, this is real, you know. And I remember you actually mentioning this field in front of us. There were so many bodies that they had to, you know, bulldoze them. So terrible. And I think that, you know, war especially gets romanticized or glorified and that's by the people who really have not endured the suffering, you know, in such a situation. And that's one thing that we also hope to bring to light, you know, at least through people remembering it or sharing their stories. Yeah. You know, there's another part to this story here in the Mayira area. Following the event in Mayira proper, I was informed of a cave in which the 24 Japanese 24th Division headquarters were located. And so we said, well, I don't think any attempts that we may carry out will have any success. But let's give it a try because we were informed by a Japanese soldier who had escaped from the cave that General Hamamiya, who is the commander of 24th Division, was in this cave, which is located just close by the Mayira village. So we said, well, let's give it a try. So we went to the cave entrance, set up the loudspeaker and talked for about half an hour and tried to coax the general to surrender, knowing very well that he would never surrender. But anyway, we gave it a try and I left. But you know something, some 2013, just a few years ago, I found out that my attempt, my call into the cave was heard by the people who were in there. And one of the guys that made this known is today, well, he's no longer living. He was in Hokkaido. I wanted to go to meet the guy when I found out that he was in the cave. But I read his account of what he heard. And when I read that, I said, boy, that's exactly what I said over the loudspeaker into the cave, trying to get the general to surrender. And so when I read his account, I said, wow, this is the first time that I am getting a direct report on what I did from the enemy side. This guy heard my talk and he made a record of it. So I said, wow, that was really something to find out. Yeah. And then your friend tried to hunt him down for you, right? Yeah. Which guy was it? And then he had passed away. Do you remember the guy that wrote the book? Oh, unfortunately. But that would have been really kind of a neat meeting, too. Yeah. All these stories. So interesting, really, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah, we were very grateful if you saw the clip in the beginning with the Jeeps coming out. That was Dr. Mark Chun and Erica Koh and Jeff Wang reenactors. They brought out all their vehicles and they were so kind and generous. And we went out to Kahuku to shoot that. And yeah, it was a three-day shoot and very tremendous production. It was very hot. And I was August. And I was so sunburned, my lip was swollen. Like I got punched. Yeah. But those were real Marines out there, too. So yeah, Lieutenant Colonel Adam Bryson, he brought out his guys and Nate Miller. So yeah, it was pretty cool. Real Marines out there. Well, I'm glad you found interest. You think we captured it? I don't know. Anyway, I'm thankful that you appreciated some of my experiences and tried to make something out of it. Well, of course. What you did was amazing. First of all, I didn't think I had done much, but in your eyes, it was quite interesting. Yes, it was an amazing herb. Not just our eyes, the Congress, too. Oh, yeah. So, well, we're trying to get the clip. Mark, yeah. Mark Dakai. And actually, we were very grateful for Mark Dakai's help as well. Yes. He was a friend for, you know, so long. And then Wednesday, he had called. Oh, and there's a certificate from Mark on the release of both films. And actually, he really helped us get to Okinawa to shoot the documentary, you know. Yeah. Because Hawaiian Air, they were very generous and they stuck me and Alex and Johnny Tomura to a really skeleton crew on a flight to Fukuoka. And then when I told Mark what you did, and I said, you know, this guy didn't even get a medal. He got this citation piece of paper and then Mark did, we worked together to make this happen. But this was so funny. You know, he was reading this and it was a certificate and he was like, you know, I'm sorry, it was kind of last minute, so I didn't, I can't get you on the floor. And I said, that's okay. Everything is a certificate, but that's okay because you got a standing ovation anyway. Yeah, that was quite an honor. Yeah, that was really cool. Yeah. So nice. We're so glad to get Mark in that film, too. Yeah. And then there's, that's also in the capital and the gallery. Yeah. Yeah. We miss Mark. It's really sad that he had to leave us so early in his life. Yeah. Yes, Mark was a tremendous champion of the veterans and he was very happy too, you know, to be of help. And he was always asking, how can I help, you know, and even the film that we're currently making about the origins of the 442, so the 100, the 442 and the MIS. So, you know, you have another cameo in there. On December 7th, you were ironing, right? That's true. So that's in there. You remember all those things in there. So, yeah, so we're working on, we're finalizing the script and, you know, be shooting in December. Yeah, I was ironing that morning when the announcement came. Right. And Mark helped us get the funding for that as well as the rest of the legislature. We're so grateful. And hopefully we'll be back sharing more about that film as well and actually the whole process of filmmaking now we're in pre-production right now, but there's stuff we can share. Yeah. And actually, oh, I have to tell people that, you know, you helped us make the movie too because, you know, when Alex, we were working on the script and there were lines and we, of course, needed to Japanese translation. And then there was a situation where, you know, they weren't coming out and I was like, yeah, but it came out right away. And so we're trying to think, okay, so what would have happened? What would have happened? Like, what is plausible? You know, like, what if you had gone to General Amamiya's cave first, then you would have been, you know, like, oh, I just want some people to come out. Right. And so, her really wrote his own lines. And then I drove it over to Brad Matsumura, the actor who played you. And then he was very nervous. But he was happy to meet you at HIF, at the end. Yeah, that was nice. Yeah. Well, all right. Well, it took you to make something out of my experiences. Well, I personally didn't think much of what I did, but to you it was so different. Oh, well, saving lives is a big deal. Okay. All right. Okay. Thanks, guys. These World War II veterans are so humble, and, you know, I gotta love them. My gosh. Anyway, that's it for me today. Thanks to the rescue, although it was really her to the rescue. Thanks for joining us.