I think that was during the Russo-Japanese War. We army soldiers were issued beautiful white rice. At first we were happy. Those of us who came from farming families could only eat white rice at festivals. But then things started to go wrong. My legs became numb and I couldn't stand up. He would lose weight even though he was eating, and he would have cramps even while sleeping. People called me "cool. At first they laughed at me, calling it a "luxury disease," but while they were laughing, some of them started dying.

I think that was during the Russo-Japanese War. We army soldiers were issued beautiful white rice. At first we were happy. Those of us who came from farming families could only eat white rice at festivals. But then things started to go wrong. My legs became numb and I couldn't stand up. He would lose weight even though he was eating, and he would have cramps even while sleeping. People called me "cool. At first they laughed at me, calling it a "luxury disease," but while they were laughing, some of them started dying.

The Navy guys were different. They ate barley rice and never got lethargy. I heard that Colonel Takagi, a military doctor, instructed them to do so. Our military doctor was a great doctor named Mori Ogai. He insisted that "leprosy is caused by germs. He said that he didn't want the soldiers to eat such a vile thing as barley. He was a great scholar and a great authority, but to us, we just wanted him to say that he was wrong if he was wrong.

Being shot and killed in battle is no problem. But to die over a meal is unbearable. In the end, everyone was talking about it, saying that more people were killed by kakke than died in battle. After all, they died bedridden, unable to stand or walk. It's frustrating to see soldiers rot without fighting.

Looking back on it now, some lives were spared because of that one decision on the barley rice. We had no way to go against the authority in the army, even if they made a mistake. I just can't forget that a meal could take a life.

---I'll never forget that.

[Related information (enumeration)

1. "Nihon Rikugun to Shikkakei Mondai" (The Japanese Army and the problem of leprosy), Shigetaka Kato (Kodansha Science Bunko)
2. "Shikkki to Nihonjin" Yamashita Masazo (Yoshikawa Kobunkan)
3. "Mori Ogai to Shikki-Dispute" Nakamura Heizo (Chuokoron-sha)
4. "Portrait of Modern Japanese", National Diet Library - description of Mori Ogai and beriberi
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, e-Health Net, "Foot Failure"-Explanation as a Vitamin B1 deficiency disease