Good ole gary on the narration. He played a show for us up in alaska right before our deployment to Afghanistan. Gave us free beer and everything! It was a really good time and a fond memory. For some of my friends, it was their last concert. That is one memory I would like to hold on to. The man takes care of the soldiers. I wish thst I could meet him and thank him personally.
My dad who just died at 100, was in the army on Bougainville and had some amazing stories. I wish I was younger, I would make the trek to see where he served for 3 years. Thanks for the fabulous video.
More young Americans need to watch documentaries like these to appreciate the country and the freedoms that they are afforded today,and protect them against enemies both foreign and domestic.
I knew an older gentleman from Brownwood Texas, his last name was Dirsche who flew P-38s, he had flown with Dick Bong a lot and showed me photos and Japanese souvenirs he had taken. He was a very quiet, humble man and a good friend.
awakening the sleeping giant still is one of the best statement uttered by Yamamoto, the Army of Japan was to strong and influential..such a great docu, narrated by a great human..Gary Sinise..thank you for the content...
That statement was famously attributed to him, but there's no proof that he actually said it. Same with his alleged statement that invading America would be futile as there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass. Strong statements that add to his legend, but still unsubstantiated to this day.
@@DK-gy7ll That is true. But we do know he did say he believed the Japanese Navy would have success for the first six to twelve months of a war with the US and Great Britain, but after then he did not anticipate they would be able to do much. He then urged their Prime Minister to not begin a war with the US, but he was ignored.
Great doco, our family business is based in Honiara right at the end of the fighter strip that the P38s took off from. We have gone out to the battlegrounds surrounding Henderson airstrip and found all sorts of military equipment. We came across human teeth and buried them atop Edson’s Ridge, we suspect they were from a Japanese soldier as they had a metal cap over them that we were told that was an Asian style dental work. Even though they were our enemy we impressed upon our children that were with us that these teeth were from a young man that was sent to war and died young, it was quite sombre.
I must say that you were nieve in thinking you were going to change how the Japanese thought about a past hero. Great documentary i found it enlightening.
Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. Just like the Japanese corporation that bought a very-likely Van Gogh forgery will ever let anyone examine it closely. From what I understand, their culture is all about “saving face”. The humiliation it was cause to admit to paying zillions for a forgery would be too much. And it retains its paid value in their minds if they don’t probe deeper. They would never admit a warrior icon was blown to bits like any other human.
@@davea8346 I know a prisoner of theirs who was captured in Shanghai & held for 7 years received compensation about 5-8 years ago. She had been a child at the time & was released by the Americans as they entered China. She's still alive.
By the way, spare a thought for the coast watcher who tipped off the Yanks the admiral was on the move. Very brave people. He came from thirty five miles north west of London UK as I do and when I came home I tried to find out who he was with no luck.
My dad serviced in the 4th Marine Division and was wounded on Saipan. His squad was on the famous group photo taken in the Bougainville jungle. Bougainville was one of his 1st island fights for him after leaving Alaska. He still had an o3a3 as shown in the picture. He left boot camp after only two weeks when they send guys from the North who were hunters and good shots to snipe the Japanese invading Alaska.
@@3-2bravo49He was sent to Alaska to fight the Japanese coming in. They took northern hunters and treated their rifle skills. They took a top percentage.
From the end of the 21st Century up until recently Bougainville was kinda like the Huertgen Forest of the Pacific. A terribly fierce, enormously costly battle that only the more than casual observer of WW2 studied/discussed/ was aware of. Now gamers have brought a whole new demographic into serious WW2 study via the interactive video games that they play globally in real time. It’s crazy and cool to meet a 20 year old kid who says “yeah I know what Bougainville is. I ‘fought’ there last week.”
This part of the world is sacred to Australians. We have our own past and recent history. I could list names of forgotten hero’s murdered as pow’s but there’s too many to list
Since Yamamoto was adopted, your DNA search has an alternate path. You should investigate the original family for a DNA match since the grandson will not do the test.
Exactly what I've said!... I don't think of myself to be ''that smart'' or them to be ''that dumb'' so it could be a ''false flag'' op.... for some reason...
@04:23 That is Rabaul Harbor on the Island of New Britain, the dormant volcano on the very left side of this view is the one me and one of my shipmates climbed to the top of in 1985 when our U.S. Navy ship visited. There is an old Japanese radio antenna on top that all the visitors have signed, I forget what I wrote, but we joined the club I forget the native name of it, but the translation was "Little Mother Mountain", "Mother Mountain" is taller dormant volcano and can be seen in the far distance with an active volcano in between them. It was quite the experience and a fascinating story that we almost died doing it.
Did you serve on the USS John Young DD 973? Myself and I fellow sonarman from the John Young were there in Rabaul on westpac 85 and climbed the active volcano saddled inbetween little mama and big mama. That is what the locals called them. Our guide was a peace corps volunteer from the university of Florida, he had gone buck wild wearing the native lap lap skirt accompanied with several local kids, they joined us and after a steep scramble straight up thru thick jungle we finally reached a barren crater steaming with hot sulfur fumeroles all around us. Then after we climbed back down we cooled off and swam in a black sand lagoon with white corral. The Rabaul caldera later blew its top in 1994 and devestated Rabaul once again. One off my all time favorite places on the planet!
If Yamamoto was adopted into the Yamamoto family, then surely one should pursue his original family members for a D.N.A. match. This is a fantastic documentary on a famous Japanese person, someone whom I have heard about but knew little. Thank you for your efforts in investigating this historical issue. I look forward to maybe more information if Mr Portillo pursues Yamamoto 's original family's D.N.A..
I travelled through this area a number of times in the 80's. It is hard to comprehend just how remote it is. Even in the 80's there were almost no modern settlements. Literally dug out canoes and occasional campfires on the beaches. Hard to imagine what the local native populations living virtually in the stone age with no comprehension of the outside world thought about WW2 arriving. I was under the impression Yamamoto's body was recovered and they held a big state funeral for him. Either way it doesn't matter. Dead is dead leave him to rest in peace. Curiosity about the tooth just morbid. What you going to do keep it on your mantle piece. Bury it or return it to his family to bury.
Great documentary. I have been fascinated with this story since first hearing about it. The fact that the army flyers could meet at the exact moment and location to intercept and shoot him down is incredible. I am glad they lost the war. They were an evil people. The war crimes they perpetrated were Genghis Khan like. Small man Bushido complex. Today they are seemingly nice and an ally. We had to beat them into submission. They wouldn't have stopped. Adamo Yamamoto was a very popular figure to them back then.
I was on Bougainville for three years in the 1970's. I was told Yamamotos aircraft was found near the Buin road with the admiral still strapped in his seat or should I say his bones were. How did they know it was him. He was still wearing his silk sash and silk doesn't rot. Anything organic and dead in that place rots or is carried off by ants pretty quick time.
I also was on Bougainville (75/76?). Do you know if the wreckage was anywhere near the Siwai district? The Siwai villagers were very friendly then. I flew there by Bougair to the airstrip near the hospital run by Sister Pamela Beaumont. Interestingly the pilot cut his engines immediately he touched down since when he reached the other end of the runway the aircraft was completely surrounded by villagers! When she first went there, the kids were absolutely terrified of her. Then when she learnt the language, she realised they had been telling the kids that she was a witch who ate children! Over the years she gained their trust and many of them now adults when I was there looked on her as a mother! It’s a shame everything went to pot after I left.
You guys should do a trip to Buin. Back in the 70s I was the guest of a plantation owner whose house was on or near the airstrip. In his front yard was a Japanese Zero that had belly landed and still looked in good condition. On the way to his house he pulled over near what looked like a tall tree stump covered in vines. He pulled the vines off to reveal a large calibre AA gun pointing to the sky!!! He said there was also the wreckage of a bomber on his plantation and although he took us to try and find it , he was unable to. All through the plantation were bomb craters which had never been filled in and bred millions of mosquitoes!!!
Yamamoto was 32 when he was adopted. In Japan that type of adoption is not unusual. Also, it is not unusual for a man to take his wife's family name upon marriage.
Part of the reason he was so vilified by the US media and the military was because he had become friends with high ranking officers and they felt a deep betrayal when he commanded the attack on Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto did not want to go to war against the United States for several reasons, primarily because he knew Japan couldn't win but also because he had many friends in the US and because he liked or maybe even loved the country. BU he was an honorable man and stood up when his country asked him to.
Deep state european Interests city of london banking cartel et al WANTED USA in the war just like they did with WW1, and ALLOWING pearl harbour was the catalyst for it look at all Dr Jack Kruse podcasts hes been interviewed on it will reveal all,... with the Reciepts to prove it , not only that it will show you how they have coopted our health and wellness worldwide............and what we need to do to Undo it,,Light is the key ,.. sound crazy to you , then ignore it Cheers and Stay Well
IMHO Yamamoto is a ledged. In Japan he has a "God like status". Yes, a DNA test is something I would be interested in finding out the results of. The Grandson , IMHO is protecting his Grandfathers status. If that tooth, was from Yamamoto, then his status would be shattered. I have been to Japan twice. If you are in Tokyo, go to the Museum of Military of History and the shrine. This is a well done documentary. Thank you.
Curious about your thoughts because you've been to Japan. I was thinking about from the Japanese culture aspect and thought: It would seem doing the DNA work on the tooth first and seeing if they can actually get solid DNA information before troubling the grandson for a DNA sample might have been the more tactful way of approaching this. It also may have been more enticing to the grandson if they had the DNA paperwork in hand and could show him the DNA from the tooth at least belonged to someone Japanese.
@Montana_horseman Hello. Thanks for your comments. From my perspective,and I am speaking only for myself, DNA testing is a risk for the legend of Isoroku Yamamoto. Many people believe he died in his seat,sword in hand. If in fact the tooth is his,this is a lie. Just like the JFK assassination, the truth is unknown. If you watch the last part again, ther is a photo showing the chair outside the plane upside down. Interesting fact to ponder over. Do go to Japan. GET your rail pas prior to going . It pays for itself in 2 trips. Airport to hotel,and airport to Tokyo proper In the museum at the front you will find a Zero fighter. Wow,beautiful plane. Happy 2025.
My grandfather fought in new guinea and Bougainville, Bougainville was a pointless battle it had long been left isolated bu the course of the war they were contained there with no where to go , jut a pointless loss of allied life
I wonder if there may be a photo or records here, when he was a naval attaché, that might show his front teeth from that time period. A front gold crown might have been apparent when speaking or regular cleaning here in the states.
My dad, DeWitt Rasmuson, fought in Bougainvillea. He was a Marine Raider with the 5th Marines. His MOS was listed as a heavy machine gun operator. Somehow, he became a Raider, and I'm not sure how. His service record papers have disappeared, and I don't know how to find out exactly where he fought other than in Bougainvillea.
There was a W.W.2--Betty-Bomber,-pulled out of the jungle,-on display at the "Planes of Fame"- museum-in 2012-those twin-engined Bombers,-where a very nice "Streamlined"-looking plane-they had the "Swamp-Ghost"-B-17-E-there too,-I worked on Melville Island-north of Darwin Australia-in 1971-there was an old Zero wreck there-that had been "worked-over"-but I got a piece of the flap-& a "Turn & Bank"indicator in Japanese-off it--the Aust.War Museum has the rest of the Wreck-& reckon it was flown by Saburo Sakai-at one stage--Green ants drove me off the island-if you disturb their nest-in the trees-They will come after you at least 100 yards-& bite the crap outa you!!--Now days-the Crocodiles are out control-& are the meanest Sneakiest thing on Planet Earth-
One thing no one hasn't mentioned is the fact the lightning is also armed with a 37 mm could be possible a round from that caused the damage to his head Nd face
There are many books with photos of allied bombers and fighters that pulled up their crippled aircraft and stalled them into the jungle canopies those planes or what is left of them are still there 2 this day.
I remember reading years ago that he was very pestimistic about Japan's WW2 prospects after Pearl. Words to the effect: Japan will run wild for a year or so, then the future will be grim. Obviously he was a 'sword of the Emperor', doing his duty reluctantly.
If you are unfamiliar with Chicago, try Buena Beef for an Italian beef sandwich. They make a really good sandwich. The Portillo's beef sandwich is not so great. If you know a local, ask for their recommendation. There are hundreds of small places in the city and suburbs.
Yeah!... tyrants are like that... that's why we fight them... if you live under tyranny, it makes sense to think that the world is like that... it's just a way to protect your sanity... the truth is different though... there's Freedom in free thinking and free speaking... something beyond your understanding... [being a slave and all...]
Instead of trying to prove that american bullets ripped a japanese admirals face apart, dispelling a myth that was given to the public to save face. Something that is very important to the japanese. Just give it back to the family, that would be seen as a very honourable thing to do. Pursuing military historical mysteries can be very rewarding, but sometimes you can just go too far.
As much as they tried to frame it as for history, anytime those two guy spoke it was pretty clear they wanted a lot of money for it, and that was the sole reason they want to verify it.
There’s another RUclips clip about the Japanese fighter escort pilots and their involvement in the incident. Each pilots story is noted, and the shame they felt for allowing the shoot down.
I wonder if one day our children will want to tell our war stories. I love that this man loved and respected his father’s service. I didn’t fight in multiple theaters like these brave men but I fought right along side guys who did. We just buried one of our guys that had three Purple Hearts and had a CIB with a star on it for the two theaters of OEF and OIF. The guy is one of my heroes. SFC Weirzbecki. My spelling may be slightly off but he was a squad leader for a different squad in my platoon. He was probably a platoon SGT before he got out. Not me, spec 4 one and done OEF ‘09-10. I did it but I’m not a hero like these other guys. I have a lot of stories and so do my battle buddies.
What about looking dental records that pertain to his time spent in the USA before the war? or analyzing the specific alloy that the bridge was made from... some alloys may not have been available in Japan and may indicate that it was made during his time in the USA.... just a way of narrowing the possibilities ?
I’ve become seriously cynical in my latter years… This could be the perfect hoax. The stereotype Japanese having gold teeth, the rumor of his head exploding. Get a gold tooth drop it in the mud, jam it full of mud picking it up and voila the Admirals tooth…. You’re off and running.
@@walterbsprinks "Andy Giles continues to lead tours to some of the Pacific's most remote battlefields and find WWII relics that nobody else seems to notice." 🤔
Yamamoto was only adopted to the Yamamoto family, he had many birth name siblings, like 5 or 6 brothers. DNA would be plentyfull, through his birth family.
My father was on bougainville and iwo jima.he said the sentries would check to make sure you weren't up against the mosquito net or you'd be eaten alive
I'm thinking maybe somewhere in the US are some old dental x-rays from Admiral Yamamoto. He spent a lot of time there - maybe he went to the dentist at some point in time. Most probably - he didn't have that crown back then - but a size comparison of his teeth on x-ray vs. the ones in the crown might shed some light. Teeth shapes vary a lot. Two exactly matching teeth next to each other in the precisely right distance might not be as good as DNA - but still worth the effort.
@@nomadpi1 So... you have searched each and every x-ray from that period in all attics, basements and garages from each and every relative of a dentist back then? Impressive. Really impressive.
It doesnt seem like anyone else realized it, but this doc was sponsored by Dick Portillo, the man who created Portillos hot dogs. apparently he served in the marines before becoming a restaurateur
Why wouldn’t they have looked for his birth family to obtain DNA after his grandson refused? Maybe there was no living Takano relative except the grandson?
It looks like a tooth that has had root canal treatment. You can see an enamel margin, discoloured fractured tooth (dentine) inside the crown and the old phosphate cement used to stick it on. The thin edges of the crown show why it's a good dental material (thin, biocompatible and strong). It was a terrible choice to crown that tooth and add a pontic (false tooth) turning it into a cantilever bridge. It's just too much mechanical load unless the person didn't actually bite on this tooth (anterior open bite). Interestingly on the labial (side facing the lip) the gold has torn (note the jagged edges). That's not due wear and tear but massive trauma. When I was on Bougainville as the Dentist, I never got to see that plane but I saw others on the Buin Rd (a NZ Corsair) and those on the airfield at Kahili. Fkn hot eh? IJN should have Yamamotos dental records as part of his service records. It'll be in his records if he had this dental procedure done. He must have been to a Navy dentist during the war at some stage and keeping a record of what he had in his mouth upon examination has always been standard procedure. That would cover the chance he'd had the dental procedure done in the US before the war. Even a picture of him smiling would help solve the mystery of whether it was his or not. I doubt DNA testing would have helped at all. Great place, great people, awesome scenery - I hope it doesn't get exploited for copper or its geopolitically sensitive location. I also hope its new government doesn't try to be too clever in trying to play the US and China off against each other. Lukim yu wantoks - Marcus Bai = No 1
Am I the only one who thinks Yamamoto wasn't born "Yamamoto" but adopted by the Yamamoto family? Why is nobody researching his REAL relatives, who'd love to contribute to his legacy, and who have been left outside?
They clearly really, badly want the tooth to be Yamamoto's. But that's a dangerous thing with science and history, you can get tunnel vision and start missing things.
If my DNA could prove that my grandfather did not die intact but in a horrific way and the body in pieces, I wouldn't give up my DNA either. I understand and respect Yamamoto's grandson's desire to keep the image of Yamamoto's last moment as told by the military. Sometimes, the truth doesn't need to be known. It will not benefit Yamamoto's descendants, it might even hurt them.
It strikes me that very little mention or thought has gone into what was said near the beginning of this video. He was a Yamamoto by adoption. Getting emotional about the Yamamoto's that lived before him is weird. Those people are not his ancestors.
It would seem doing the DNA work on the tooth and seeing if they can actually get a solid DNA information before troubling the grandson for a DNA sample might have been the more tactful way of approaching this. It also may have been more enticing to the grandson if they had the DNA paperwork in hand and could show him the DNA from the tooth at least belonged to someone Japanese. Another thing that came to mind is that gold teeth were often extracted by any means on the battlefield, hence the damage. The tooth could have been dropped by the ground troops that first searched and found the plane or any other troops that fought or passed through the area.
Zero chance the Japanese people will cooperate to tarnish the shiny memory of what many still consider a pseudo-God like Yamamoto. Also, zero chance he was found sitting upright in his seat, hat perfectly poised on his head and still clutching his sword like he was 'napping'. While flying through the Pacific Rim, I visited many WW-II sites including the Yamamoto crash site. What stood out in my mind as an Aviator, was the lack of any recognizable remains of the cockpit area. The nose of the aircraft suffered massive kinetic energy damage and was mostly shredded. In my opinion, it was bad enough that they had to report his death, the Japanese war ministry would never have done anything more to hurt their war effort and the legacy of Yamamoto by reporting that he was horribly deformed and burned.
In the 1980's you could still see WW2 Veterans in Tokyo in full uniform begging for alms. They'd stand at attention with a bowl at their feet where you could put coins. If you had folding money they might put a gloved hand upward at their side and accept the offering. Some bowed slightly at the waist in thanks. We were told not to engage or acknowledge them in any other way as the embarrassment was too great. Their uniforms were spotless but threadbare showing signs of having been mended by hand. Most of these men were homeless and unrecognized by their government.
I think that Yamamoto was trying to act honourably. What he wanted, and what his country needed at the time, aren't the same thing. I think that he wanted to use his death to show Japan that they couldn't win the war. I think he was trying to save Japan, rather than have the opposite effect.
@26:20 The P-38 had only 1 20mm cannon, not "cannons". @33:50 How much did the negotiations cost you in $? @34:26 The native boy carrying coconuts on a stick is a natural supply of fresh water that people can drink to stay hydrated. Those same coconuts saved me & my fellow sailor when we climbed a dormant volcano in Rabaul PNG in 1985. So, did the gold tooth makes its way back to Japan or not?
Good ole gary on the narration. He played a show for us up in alaska right before our deployment to Afghanistan. Gave us free beer and everything! It was a really good time and a fond memory. For some of my friends, it was their last concert. That is one memory I would like to hold on to. The man takes care of the soldiers. I wish thst I could meet him and thank him personally.
My dad who just died at 100, was in the army on Bougainville and had some amazing stories. I wish I was younger, I would make the trek to see where he served for 3 years. Thanks for the fabulous video.
More young Americans need to watch documentaries like these to appreciate the country and the freedoms that they are afforded today,and protect them against enemies both foreign and domestic.
I knew an older gentleman from Brownwood Texas, his last name was Dirsche who flew P-38s, he had flown with Dick Bong a lot and showed me photos and Japanese souvenirs he had taken. He was a very quiet, humble man and a good friend.
awakening the sleeping giant still is one of the best statement uttered by Yamamoto, the Army of Japan was to strong and influential..such a great docu, narrated by a great human..Gary Sinise..thank you for the content...
That statement was famously attributed to him, but there's no proof that he actually said it. Same with his alleged statement that invading America would be futile as there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass. Strong statements that add to his legend, but still unsubstantiated to this day.
@@DK-gy7ll That is true. But we do know he did say he believed the Japanese Navy would have success for the first six to twelve months of a war with the US and Great Britain, but after then he did not anticipate they would be able to do much. He then urged their Prime Minister to not begin a war with the US, but he was ignored.
Wasn't it sleeping bear ?
@tomcampbell653 negative. That would probably be more appropriate for Russia
A man who survived Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Iwo Jima? Goodness gracious. Blessed and highly favored
A timeless statement by Plato,, "The one who speaks the TRUTH will always be hated"
Very well done , nothing fancy , just the truth , and hard work
Great doco, our family business is based in Honiara right at the end of the fighter strip that the P38s took off from. We have gone out to the battlegrounds surrounding Henderson airstrip and found all sorts of military equipment. We came across human teeth and buried them atop Edson’s Ridge, we suspect they were from a Japanese soldier as they had a metal cap over them that we were told that was an Asian style dental work. Even though they were our enemy we impressed upon our children that were with us that these teeth were from a young man that was sent to war and died young, it was quite sombre.
There are first-hand accounts of Marines taking gold teeth, skulls, and other 'trophies' of dead Japanese. So there is that.
😮😊
Fascinating story. Thanks for sharng.
I'm a son of a marine and I love to see military at Portillos and pay forward and thank them for their service.
Shame his board is all women
Excellent documentary. 👏
I must say that you were nieve in thinking you were going to change how the Japanese thought about a past hero. Great documentary i found it enlightening.
Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. Just like the Japanese corporation that bought a very-likely Van Gogh forgery will ever let anyone examine it closely. From what I understand, their culture is all about “saving face”. The humiliation it was cause to admit to paying zillions for a forgery would be too much. And it retains its paid value in their minds if they don’t probe deeper. They would never admit a warrior icon was blown to bits like any other human.
The bad stuff the Japanese did during the war is not talked about. They live in denial. Germany had made apologies for the war. Japan never has.
@@davea8346 I know a prisoner of theirs who was captured in Shanghai & held for 7 years received compensation about 5-8 years ago. She had been a child at the time & was released by the Americans as they entered China. She's still alive.
very humbling much respect
By the way, spare a thought for the coast watcher who tipped off the Yanks the admiral was on the move. Very brave people. He came from thirty five miles north west of London UK as I do and when I came home I tried to find out who he was with no luck.
but the coast😅 watcher being a position would be known the corp records who did that part at that time.
Then there was the death marches from Sandaka to Naru yes we as Australians have much history in our part of the Pacific.
The U.S. intel knew beforehand thru ULTRA. The remaining task was simple mathemathics.
My dad serviced in the 4th Marine Division and was wounded on Saipan. His squad was on the famous group photo taken in the Bougainville jungle. Bougainville was one of his 1st island fights for him after leaving Alaska. He still had an o3a3 as shown in the picture. He left boot camp after only two weeks when they send guys from the North who were hunters and good shots to snipe the Japanese invading Alaska.
Where in Alaska was he from? I served with the 25th up in fairbanks. I am going to have to look for that photo
3rd took Bougainv - not the 4th
@@3-2bravo49He was sent to Alaska to fight the Japanese coming in. They took northern hunters and treated their rifle skills. They took a top percentage.
From the end of the 21st Century up until recently Bougainville was kinda like the Huertgen Forest of the Pacific. A terribly fierce, enormously costly battle that only the more than casual observer of WW2 studied/discussed/ was aware of. Now gamers have brought a whole new demographic into serious WW2 study via the interactive video games that they play globally in real time. It’s crazy and cool to meet a 20 year old kid who says “yeah I know what Bougainville is. I ‘fought’ there last week.”
Thank you
A very important and well 👍 done documentary but maybe some thing are best left as they stand
Watched from Old Harbour Jamaica, very interesting.🛩
This part of the world is sacred to Australians. We have our own past and recent history. I could list names of forgotten hero’s murdered as pow’s but there’s too many to list
Lark Force...
My dad was POW of Japs 3+ years. 8th Division.
Since Yamamoto was adopted, your DNA search has an alternate path. You should investigate the original family for a DNA match since the grandson will not do the test.
That was my first thought when they mentioned that he was adopted.
but how to thus find his original siblings, perhaps japs didn't keep such records back then. if so, send the guys a letter to pursue the idea :)
Exactly what I've said!... I don't think of myself to be ''that smart'' or them to be ''that dumb'' so it could be a ''false flag'' op.... for some reason...
Interesting! Thanks
This is a very good Doco and was very informative and enjoyable to watch
@04:23 That is Rabaul Harbor on the Island of New Britain, the dormant volcano on the very left side of this view is the one me and one of my shipmates climbed to the top of in 1985 when our U.S. Navy ship visited. There is an old Japanese radio antenna on top that all the visitors have signed, I forget what I wrote, but we joined the club I forget the native name of it, but the translation was "Little Mother Mountain", "Mother Mountain" is taller dormant volcano and can be seen in the far distance with an active volcano in between them. It was quite the experience and a fascinating story that we almost died doing it.
Did you serve on the USS John Young DD 973? Myself and I fellow sonarman from the John Young were there in Rabaul on westpac 85 and climbed the active volcano saddled inbetween little mama and big mama. That is what the locals called them. Our guide was a peace corps volunteer from the university of Florida, he had gone buck wild wearing the native lap lap skirt accompanied with several local kids, they joined us and after a steep scramble straight up thru thick jungle we finally reached a barren crater steaming with hot sulfur fumeroles all around us. Then after we climbed back down we cooled off and swam in a black sand lagoon with white corral. The Rabaul caldera later blew its top in 1994 and devestated Rabaul once again. One off my all time favorite places on the planet!
My great uncle was stranded on Bougainville island during the war. Was never the same after according to other family members.
Excellent. 👍
A Great Documentary on Admiral Yamamoto
If Yamamoto was adopted into the Yamamoto family, then surely one should pursue his original family members for a D.N.A. match. This is a fantastic documentary on a famous Japanese person, someone whom I have heard about but knew little. Thank you for your efforts in investigating this historical issue. I look forward to maybe more information if Mr Portillo pursues Yamamoto 's original family's D.N.A..
Absolutely I agree 100 %
Another great job done by Gary Sinese
I travelled through this area a number of times in the 80's. It is hard to comprehend just how remote it is.
Even in the 80's there were almost no modern settlements. Literally dug out canoes and occasional campfires on the beaches.
Hard to imagine what the local native populations living virtually in the stone age with no comprehension of the outside world thought about WW2 arriving.
I was under the impression Yamamoto's body was recovered and they held a big state funeral for him. Either way it doesn't matter. Dead is dead leave him to rest in peace. Curiosity about the tooth just morbid. What you going to do keep it on your mantle piece. Bury it or return it to his family to bury.
Did you not watch the video?
Great show! I think this would be an excellent case for genetic geneaology. The DNA can be traced back to the family tree.
Great documentary. I have been fascinated with this story since first hearing about it. The fact that the army flyers could meet at the exact moment and location to intercept and shoot him down is incredible. I am glad they lost the war. They were an evil people. The war crimes they perpetrated were Genghis Khan like. Small man Bushido complex.
Today they are seemingly nice and an ally. We had to beat them into submission. They wouldn't have stopped.
Adamo Yamamoto was a very popular figure to them back then.
I was on Bougainville for three years in the 1970's. I was told Yamamotos aircraft was found near the Buin road with the admiral still strapped in his seat or should I say his bones were. How did they know it was him. He was still wearing his silk sash and silk doesn't rot. Anything organic and dead in that place rots or is carried off by ants pretty quick time.
Uhmmmmm, silk IS organic, ergo, so it DOES rot. So says TAG = TheAlmightyGoogle.
Well, silk is organi, but hardier than other materials. But silk rots too.
His plane was floating in water.
I also was on Bougainville (75/76?).
Do you know if the wreckage was anywhere near the Siwai district?
The Siwai villagers were very friendly then.
I flew there by Bougair to the airstrip near the hospital run by Sister Pamela Beaumont.
Interestingly the pilot cut his engines immediately he touched down since when he reached the other end of the runway the aircraft was completely surrounded by villagers!
When she first went there, the kids were absolutely terrified of her.
Then when she learnt the language, she realised they had been telling the kids that she was a witch who ate children!
Over the years she gained their trust and many of them now adults when I was there looked on her as a mother!
It’s a shame everything went to pot after I left.
You guys should do a trip to Buin.
Back in the 70s I was the guest of a plantation owner whose house was on or near the airstrip.
In his front yard was a Japanese Zero that had belly landed and still looked in good condition.
On the way to his house he pulled over near what looked like a tall tree stump covered in vines.
He pulled the vines off to reveal a large calibre AA gun pointing to the sky!!!
He said there was also the wreckage of a bomber on his plantation and although he took us to try and find it , he was unable to.
All through the plantation were bomb craters which had never been filled in and bred millions of mosquitoes!!!
My father served there with field ambulance and dead recovering, thank you for making this video cheers
Yamamoto was 32 when he was adopted. In Japan that type of adoption is not unusual. Also, it is not unusual for a man to take his wife's family name upon marriage.
Part of the reason he was so vilified by the US media and the military was because he had become friends with high ranking officers and they felt a deep betrayal when he commanded the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Yamamoto did not want to go to war against the United States for several reasons, primarily because he knew Japan couldn't win but also because he had many friends in the US and because he liked or maybe even loved the country. BU he was an honorable man and stood up when his country asked him to.
Deep state european Interests city of london banking cartel et al WANTED USA in the war just like they did with WW1, and ALLOWING pearl harbour was the catalyst for it look at all Dr Jack Kruse podcasts hes been interviewed on it will reveal all,... with the Reciepts to prove it , not only that it will show you how they have coopted our health and wellness worldwide............and what we need to do to Undo it,,Light is the key ,.. sound crazy to you , then ignore it Cheers and Stay Well
Anybody can reed his eyes dude... having ''feelings'' doesn't make him innocent though.... there's no ''honor'' in lobotomy!...
That was great.
IMHO Yamamoto is a ledged. In Japan he has a "God like status". Yes, a DNA test is something I would be interested in finding out the results of. The Grandson , IMHO is protecting his Grandfathers status. If that tooth, was from Yamamoto, then his status would be shattered. I have been to Japan twice. If you are in Tokyo, go to the Museum of Military of History and the shrine. This is a well done documentary. Thank you.
Curious about your thoughts because you've been to Japan. I was thinking about from the Japanese culture aspect and thought: It would seem doing the DNA work on the tooth first and seeing if they can actually get solid DNA information before troubling the grandson for a DNA sample might have been the more tactful way of approaching this. It also may have been more enticing to the grandson if they had the DNA paperwork in hand and could show him the DNA from the tooth at least belonged to someone Japanese.
@Montana_horseman Hello. Thanks for your comments.
From my perspective,and I am speaking only for myself, DNA testing is a risk for the legend of Isoroku Yamamoto.
Many people believe he died in his seat,sword in hand.
If in fact the tooth is his,this is a lie.
Just like the JFK assassination, the truth is unknown.
If you watch the last part again, ther is a photo showing the chair outside the plane upside down.
Interesting fact to ponder over.
Do go to Japan. GET your rail pas prior to going . It pays for itself in 2 trips. Airport to hotel,and airport to Tokyo proper
In the museum at the front you will find a Zero fighter. Wow,beautiful plane.
Happy 2025.
My grandfather fought in new guinea and Bougainville, Bougainville was a pointless battle it had long been left isolated bu the course of the war they were contained there with no where to go , jut a pointless loss of allied life
Well the cellphone generation they don’t care about old WW2.
My father was in WW2 yes they were the greatest generation.
As was mine. I still care. Pacific Theatre.
I wonder if there may be a photo or records here, when he was a naval attaché, that might show his front teeth from that time period. A front gold crown might have been apparent when speaking or regular cleaning here in the states.
fascinating.
being motivated.... 😆 already!
My dad, DeWitt Rasmuson, fought in Bougainvillea.
He was a Marine Raider with the 5th Marines. His MOS was listed as a heavy machine gun operator. Somehow, he became a Raider, and I'm not sure how. His service record papers have disappeared, and I don't know how to find out exactly where he fought other than in Bougainvillea.
💯% facts
There was a W.W.2--Betty-Bomber,-pulled out of the jungle,-on display at the "Planes of Fame"- museum-in 2012-those twin-engined Bombers,-where a very nice "Streamlined"-looking plane-they had the "Swamp-Ghost"-B-17-E-there too,-I worked on Melville Island-north of Darwin Australia-in 1971-there was an old Zero wreck there-that had been "worked-over"-but I got a piece of the flap-& a "Turn & Bank"indicator in Japanese-off it--the Aust.War Museum has the rest of the Wreck-& reckon it was flown by Saburo Sakai-at one stage--Green ants drove me off the island-if you disturb their nest-in the trees-They will come after you at least 100 yards-& bite the crap outa you!!--Now days-the Crocodiles are out control-& are the meanest Sneakiest thing on Planet Earth-
One thing no one hasn't mentioned is the fact the lightning is also armed with a 37 mm could be possible a round from that caused the damage to his head Nd face
Great presentation .... too bad the tooth was not confirmed as Yamamoto's.
I'm sure there are many body parts in all the jungles of the Pacific
I suspect that the same must hold true for WWI battle areas.
There are many books with photos of allied bombers and fighters that pulled up their crippled aircraft and stalled them into the jungle canopies those planes or what is left of them are still there 2 this day.
I remember reading years ago that he was very pestimistic about Japan's WW2 prospects after Pearl. Words to the effect: Japan will run wild for a year or so, then the future will be grim. Obviously he was a 'sword of the Emperor', doing his duty reluctantly.
If you are unfamiliar with Chicago, try Buena Beef for an Italian beef sandwich. They make a really good sandwich. The Portillo's beef sandwich is not so great. If you know a local, ask for their recommendation. There are hundreds of small places in the city and suburbs.
Every nation lies to its civilians about the true state of war and their military leader's,not one excepted.
Yeah!... tyrants are like that... that's why we fight them... if you live under tyranny, it makes sense to think that the world is like that... it's just a way to protect your sanity... the truth is different though... there's Freedom in free thinking and free speaking...
something beyond your understanding... [being a slave and all...]
Instead of trying to prove that american bullets ripped a japanese admirals face apart, dispelling a myth that was given to the public to save face.
Something that is very important to the japanese.
Just give it back to the family, that would be seen as a very honourable thing to do.
Pursuing military historical mysteries can be very rewarding, but sometimes you can just go too far.
As much as they tried to frame it as for history, anytime those two guy spoke it was pretty clear they wanted a lot of money for it, and that was the sole reason they want to verify it.
Here’s an observation! What if the Admiral had his dental work don’t in the states? Would records still exist?
It’s all about saving face. History sometimes is how people want to see it regardless of the true facts.
There’s another RUclips clip about the Japanese fighter escort pilots and their involvement in the incident. Each pilots story is noted, and the shame they felt for allowing the shoot down.
I wonder if one day our children will want to tell our war stories. I love that this man loved and respected his father’s service. I didn’t fight in multiple theaters like these brave men but I fought right along side guys who did. We just buried one of our guys that had three Purple Hearts and had a CIB with a star on it for the two theaters of OEF and OIF. The guy is one of my heroes. SFC Weirzbecki. My spelling may be slightly off but he was a squad leader for a different squad in my platoon. He was probably a platoon SGT before he got out. Not me, spec 4 one and done OEF ‘09-10. I did it but I’m not a hero like these other guys. I have a lot of stories and so do my battle buddies.
What about looking dental records that pertain to his time spent in the USA before the war? or analyzing the specific alloy that the bridge was made from... some alloys may not have been available in Japan and may indicate that it was made during his time in the USA.... just a way of narrowing the possibilities ?
Yamamoto was a great Japanese well respected Japanese Naval General , very Professional Soldier as well !!
I’ve become seriously cynical in my latter years… This could be the perfect hoax. The stereotype Japanese having gold teeth, the rumor of his head exploding. Get a gold tooth drop it in the mud, jam it full of mud picking it up and voila the Admirals tooth…. You’re off and running.
Your opinion has some merit. But Mr. Portillo does not present as a scam artist.
@@walterbsprinks "Andy Giles continues to lead tours to some of the Pacific's most remote battlefields and find WWII relics that nobody else seems to notice." 🤔
What happened to his sword?
When Yamamoto was in the US, did he go to the dentist and are there records here?
Wayne Purzner
Maybe...but the tooth could very well be from well after his time in the US..
Good question! I think a search for dental records in the USA is a good idea.
Yamamoto was only adopted to the Yamamoto family, he had many birth name siblings, like 5 or 6 brothers. DNA would be plentyfull, through his birth family.
My father was on bougainville and iwo jima.he said the sentries would check to make sure you weren't up against the mosquito net or you'd be eaten alive
Well done. Maybe someone has a long lost picture of him smiling and you could see the tooth.
I enjoyed watching this but, honestly, this fixation on proving that he was disfigured by a bullet seems a bit ghoulish.
If his grandson had cooperated, There would have been some closure.
Well, someone could follow the grandson around hoping he might discard a cup or some other source of DNA
@@bobwebb1580 Or we could just respect his wish to not participate in a DNA-test. It isn't like he is a suspected murderer, let him be.
I'm thinking maybe somewhere in the US are some old dental x-rays from Admiral Yamamoto. He spent a lot of time there - maybe he went to the dentist at some point in time.
Most probably - he didn't have that crown back then - but a size comparison of his teeth on x-ray vs. the ones in the crown might shed some light.
Teeth shapes vary a lot. Two exactly matching teeth next to each other in the precisely right distance might not be as good as DNA - but still worth the effort.
No such records exist, then or now.
@@nomadpi1 So... you have searched each and every x-ray from that period in all attics, basements and garages from each and every relative of a dentist back then?
Impressive. Really impressive.
56: 31 something in faded, bold black lettering on the side of this fusalauge.
Just below the long narrow window.
One can only hope that sometime in the future, the question of is it Yamamoto's tooth will be answered.
My grandfather was there with Tony Walkers C/P co. 4th Marine Raiders
Occam's Razor theory.....He was killed in the crash, not some wild speculation a US pilot shot him in the head.
What happened to the other bomber that was shot down and were any of the escorts found
Yamamoto's plane went down into the jungle. The other "Betty" bomber crashed into the ocean.
It went down over water.
This Tooth shall pass.😉
It doesnt seem like anyone else realized it, but this doc was sponsored by Dick Portillo, the man who created Portillos hot dogs. apparently he served in the marines before becoming a restaurateur
Is that the Millenium Falcon in the thumbnail? 😅
Why wouldn’t they have looked for his birth family to obtain DNA after his grandson refused?
Maybe there was no living Takano relative except the grandson?
From the cover… I think they found the Millennium Falcon!😅
It looks like a tooth that has had root canal treatment. You can see an enamel margin, discoloured fractured tooth (dentine) inside the crown and the old phosphate cement used to stick it on. The thin edges of the crown show why it's a good dental material (thin, biocompatible and strong).
It was a terrible choice to crown that tooth and add a pontic (false tooth) turning it into a cantilever bridge. It's just too much mechanical load unless the person didn't actually bite on this tooth (anterior open bite).
Interestingly on the labial (side facing the lip) the gold has torn (note the jagged edges). That's not due wear and tear but massive trauma.
When I was on Bougainville as the Dentist, I never got to see that plane but I saw others on the Buin Rd (a NZ Corsair) and those on the airfield at Kahili. Fkn hot eh?
IJN should have Yamamotos dental records as part of his service records. It'll be in his records if he had this dental procedure done. He must have been to a Navy dentist during the war at some stage and keeping a record of what he had in his mouth upon examination has always been standard procedure. That would cover the chance he'd had the dental procedure done in the US before the war. Even a picture of him smiling would help solve the mystery of whether it was his or not. I doubt DNA testing would have helped at all.
Great place, great people, awesome scenery - I hope it doesn't get exploited for copper or its geopolitically sensitive location. I also hope its new government doesn't try to be too clever in trying to play the US and China off against each other.
Lukim yu wantoks - Marcus Bai = No 1
Am I the only one who thinks Yamamoto wasn't born "Yamamoto" but adopted by the Yamamoto family? Why is nobody researching his REAL relatives, who'd love to contribute to his legacy, and who have been left outside?
They clearly really, badly want the tooth to be Yamamoto's. But that's a dangerous thing with science and history, you can get tunnel vision and start missing things.
If my DNA could prove that my grandfather did not die intact but in a horrific way and the body in pieces, I wouldn't give up my DNA either. I understand and respect Yamamoto's grandson's desire to keep the image of Yamamoto's last moment as told by the military. Sometimes, the truth doesn't need to be known. It will not benefit Yamamoto's descendants, it might even hurt them.
The bomber crash site is crying out to be forensically dug, as there is possibly other items to be found. Clearly this has never been done ?
So what happened to the Great Man's Katana?
Could the gold been done while Yam was in the states?
Did they remove the air crew of the bomber as well as
It strikes me that very little mention or thought has gone into what was said near the beginning of this video. He was a Yamamoto by adoption. Getting emotional about the Yamamoto's that lived before him is weird. Those people are not his ancestors.
It would seem doing the DNA work on the tooth and seeing if they can actually get a solid DNA information before troubling the grandson for a DNA sample might have been the more tactful way of approaching this. It also may have been more enticing to the grandson if they had the DNA paperwork in hand and could show him the DNA from the tooth at least belonged to someone Japanese. Another thing that came to mind is that gold teeth were often extracted by any means on the battlefield, hence the damage. The tooth could have been dropped by the ground troops that first searched and found the plane or any other troops that fought or passed through the area.
Zero chance the Japanese people will cooperate to tarnish the shiny memory of what many still consider a pseudo-God like Yamamoto. Also, zero chance he was found sitting upright in his seat, hat perfectly poised on his head and still clutching his sword like he was 'napping'. While flying through the Pacific Rim, I visited many WW-II sites including the Yamamoto crash site. What stood out in my mind as an Aviator, was the lack of any recognizable remains of the cockpit area. The nose of the aircraft suffered massive kinetic energy damage and was mostly shredded. In my opinion, it was bad enough that they had to report his death, the Japanese war ministry would never have done anything more to hurt their war effort and the legacy of Yamamoto by reporting that he was horribly deformed and burned.
Your bang on as always, just avoid the yabba
In the 1980's you could still see WW2 Veterans in Tokyo in full uniform begging for alms. They'd stand at attention with a bowl at their feet where you could put coins. If you had folding money they might put a gloved hand upward at their side and accept the offering.
Some bowed slightly at the waist in thanks. We were told not to engage or acknowledge them in any other way as the embarrassment was too great.
Their uniforms were spotless but threadbare showing signs of having been mended by hand. Most of these men were homeless and unrecognized by their government.
What happened?
Well,have any Japanese investigators ever been there
As far as I understand, they don't like talking about ww2. Not a very popular subject.
I think that Yamamoto was trying to act honourably. What he wanted, and what his country needed at the time, aren't the same thing. I think that he wanted to use his death to show Japan that they couldn't win the war. I think he was trying to save Japan, rather than have the opposite effect.
@26:20 The P-38 had only 1 20mm cannon, not "cannons".
@33:50 How much did the negotiations cost you in $?
@34:26 The native boy carrying coconuts on a stick is a natural supply of fresh water that people can drink to stay hydrated. Those same coconuts saved me & my fellow sailor when we climbed a dormant volcano in Rabaul PNG in 1985.
So, did the gold tooth makes its way back to Japan or not?
Sounds like there is another DNA avenue to investigate. How about tracking down any members of his birth family? Great job Gary as usual. Thx
Is it possible he had dental work done while in America? Another possible investigative avenue
no subtitles, no translate spanish.. sad... 😒😒
@29:26 & 29:39 famous BAR Browning Automatic Rifle used by soldier! 👍🇺🇸🪖
Interesting, but a lot of fanciful speculation. Just happen to find a gold tooth in the jungle after 70 years? Hmmmm. Still, an entertaining video.