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The famous Message "Climb Mount Niitaka" was a code word sent on Dec 2, 1941 authorizing the attack on Pearl Harbor, sent from IJN Nagato, flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, Combined Fleet Imperial Japanese Navy to Admiral Nagumo on the carrier IJN Akagi.
The Japanese carrier strike force is proceeding east toward the USA on a course that is well to the north of established trade routes. So far, this has been successful in maintaining the fleet's secrecy from any passing ships. As it refuels in the North Pacific at 42°N 170°E, about a third of the way to Hawaii, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto aboard battleship Nagato in Tokyo Bay radios Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, on the carrier IJN Akagi, the commander of Kido Butai (the 1st Air Fleet, in this moment was the world's largest fleet of aircraft carriers).
The message is: Climb Mount Niitaka.
Nagumo does not have to look at his codebook to know what this means. It provides official authorization to proceed with the attack on Pearl Harbor as planned.
C. Nagumo
The Admiral then opened a set of top secret documents which confirmed that Japan would be going to war with the United States. It also gave a date for the opening of hostilities…December 8th (the 7th on the Pearl Harbor side of the International Date Line).
I. Yamamoto
The stage was set… The outcome too.
As Tojo said, “With war, if you don’t try it, you can’t know how it will turn out.”
The Japanese carrier strike force is proceeding east toward the USA on a course that is well to the north of established trade routes. So far, this has been successful in maintaining the fleet's secrecy from any passing ships. As it refuels in the North Pacific at 42°N 170°E, about a third of the way to Hawaii, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto aboard battleship Nagato in Tokyo Bay radios Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, on the carrier IJN Akagi, the commander of Kido Butai (the 1st Air Fleet, in this moment was the world's largest fleet of aircraft carriers).
The message is: Climb Mount Niitaka.
Nagumo does not have to look at his codebook to know what this means. It provides official authorization to proceed with the attack on Pearl Harbor as planned.
C. Nagumo
The Admiral then opened a set of top secret documents which confirmed that Japan would be going to war with the United States. It also gave a date for the opening of hostilities…December 8th (the 7th on the Pearl Harbor side of the International Date Line).
I. Yamamoto
The stage was set… The outcome too.
As Tojo said, “With war, if you don’t try it, you can’t know how it will turn out.”