Spirit and Spine
‘Kitohone’ (Kikotsu)

A nonstandard man – aside from his height of six feet, his way of life has also been unconventional. His total flight time has been over 25 thousand hours, meaning he has spent almost three years in the sky.
The desire to be a pilot was a dream from his childhood. After preparatory training in the Naval Air Forces, he became a Navy bomber pilot. His was one of only two planes out of the forty-unit flying corps to survive through multiple battles on the Southern Front. After returning, he went into the Tokkōtai special attack corps for a suicide mission at the Battle of Okinawa, and exchanged farewell cups of water (a Japanese soldiers’ traditional toast with water instead of sake at a final parting). His order was rescinded at the last minute, and he was given another mission. Instead of flying in formation, he flew repeated solo bombing runs. His was the only plane to survive the otherwise total annihilation. After the war, he had numerous flights with various small aircraft as a private-sector vocational pilot. Participating in founding the Japan Flying Association, he trained countless younger pilots as an instructor. Also, he organized the Japan Red Cross Flying Corps, and has offered support to relief efforts. Although he has seemed to be a maverick since embarking on a freelance career at around age 50, there is no one in the aircraft world who does not admire Mr. Takahashi.
“The one who has been put off by me most must be my wife. I am truly grateful to her, though I don’t put it into words,” he says, and puts out his tongue. The stylish, slender flyer enjoys the peaceful sky.