One of the last cadets of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy vividly remembers how popular attitudes toward military officers in the final days of World War II seemed to change overnight.
In 1943 when Italy, which formed part of the Axis alliance with Japan and Germany, signed an unconditional armistice with the Allies "I thought something grave had happened and decided I should go to war like a man," said 86-year-old Arata Totsuka, referring to his decision to take the entrance examination for the academy.
Competition for entry was tough, as a large number of young people were eager to attend the school for free education to become army officers.