正明さんは戦中、四国愛媛県東温市の山あいにある青年学校の教師を務めていました。学んでいたのは、16歳から19歳までの青年たち。戦前は非戦主義者だった正明さんでしたが、当時の日本は国全体が軍隊のような状況下にあり、国家命令に従うしかありませんでした。全国の若者たちが次々と戦地に送られていった1940年の春のある日。正明さんは校庭の満開の桜の下で出征を控えた教え子たちと記念撮影をし、こう語りかけました。「お国のために戦い、勝って、必ず生きて帰って来い。そして、また桜の下で会おう。」しかし、その誓いの言葉も虚しく。戦地に向った教え子たちのうち帰国できたのは半数以下でした。

During the war Masaaki was employed as a teacher at a boys' school located in the mountains near Toon City. His students consisted of youth between the ages of sixteen and nineteen. Although he was a pacifist prior to the war, during the conflict the entire nation was in effect bound by the military, and he had no choice but to follow orders. In the spring of 1940 when youth were being sent to the front lines one by one, he gathered everyone under the full cherry blossoms in the school yard for a commemorative photograph, and said to them: 'Fight for your country, win, and be sure to come back. Let us then meet again under these cherry blossoms.' However, that vow was hollow, and of the students who went to battle less than half returned.