When Onoda landed back in Japan in 1974, he was cheered by a crowd of up to 8,000 people – a moment that was played out live on NHK, the country's national broadcaster. At that time, Japan was facing its worst economic performance in two decades, while more progressive views of the war, which included atonement for crimes, were becoming more widely held. Onoda offered a timely reminder of the traditional and positive Japanese virtues of bravery, loyalty, pride and commitment that had been widespread during wartime. His re-emergence offered a useful propaganda tool for the country's powerful conservatives – or at the very least, a good distraction. "He aligned himself with the powerful faction, and played the role that would allow him the most benefit," Trefalt says. "The money he made from the media frenzy was always going to be better than the measly veterans' pension."
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