Kazuo Sakamaki became the first Japanese prisoner of war captured by the United States in World War II.
Sakamaki was the commander of Japanese midget submarine No. 19, one of five such submarines sent toward Pearl Harbor during the attack. His submarine suffered equipment problems, was affected by an explosive charge, and eventually grounded on Oahu’s eastern shore.
Sakamaki reached shore but was unconscious and was found by U.S. Army soldier David Akui. He was taken into custody and registered as Prisoner of War No. 1. His crewmate, Chief Petty Officer Kiyoshi Inagaki, died during the operation.
Japanese authorities later treated Sakamaki as a symbol of sacrifice, while his capture illustrated the dangers and uncertainty faced by the small submarines. The midget-submarine mission achieved little against the ships in the harbor.