Letters of the Lost

Letter of the Lost

«	Remnants of the Japanese occupation of Rook Island during WWII still exist today, including several letters that were never delivered. They can be found by anyone brave enough to pluck them from the corpses of their mummified owners.	»
Survival Guide

Letters of the Lost are collectible items in Far Cry 3.

They are personal correspondence written by Japanese soldiers stationed on the island during World War II, usually to family members back home, that can now be found alongside the dead, decayed bodies of Imperial soldiers lying inside the old Japanese fortifications that are scattered throughout the Rook Islands. Many of the letters, when read together, tell the story of how some of the soldiers came to die, and of their personal feelings at a time when Japan was facing total defeat at the hands of the Allies.

After finding six Letters of the Lost, a special melee weapon called the Japanese Tanto can be acquired for free at any store, replacing the Machete.

The Letters of the Lost

Lost letters written by Japanese World War II soldiers.

Sato's Letter

A letter from a Japanese soldier during WWII, passed from friend to friend until there was nobody left to carry them.

«	My Dearest Keiko, By the time you read this, I will be dead and you will be a grown woman. Your mother will give you this letter when she believes you are ready to read it. I can only hope that she's spoken fondly of me and that you prayed to me at the shrine as I have prayed for you. We keep ourselves busy with work and singing the Tekihaikuman. Do they still sing it in your time, I wonder? I hope your Japan is a place of peace and prosperity, not filled with the thousands of enemies in the songs we sing. We must vanish into the jungles. Malaria has destroyed our ranks and we're too few to defend the lines. Major Mogi says we must ready ourselves for when the Americans land on our beaches, and drive them back to their graves in the water. In this we will be victorious if each of us offers nothing less than our lives.	»
Captain Jiro Sato

Hyogo's Letter

One of the Japanese letters from WWII, from a time when the war was at its most desperate.

«	My Dearest Ayumi, I am delighted to write you again. We have been in the jungle for a few months. It is hot and sticky, but we are filling the jungle with traps and ambush points. Major Mogi says the American devils will land any day now. Private Tadao says the islands around us have fallen. The Americans are too afraid to face us in battle, so they send planes to break our backs. I trust Major Mogi. He has been a good leader, but he drives us very hard and expects nothing but the best. We are only too glad to give it. The burden of leadership must weigh heavily on him. He paces at night and when he doesn't think we see, he talks to himself. That is what duty does to us, my daughter. It makes martyrs or madmen of us. Still, something bothers him, but I cannot ask what it is. It is not my place.	»
Private Arata Hyogo

Mori's Letter

Another Japanese letter, stained and almost illegible from years of neglect.

«	Mother, We lost seven men since the last time I wrote to you, Itchi and Ken among them. They were like brothers. Ken was very funny. I wish you could have met him. Itchi was quiet and strong. Never complaining. The men need me to be strong and Major Mogi is becoming possessed. It isn't proper to speak of such things, but I cannot share my fears with anyone here. Major Mogi has begun seeing enemies where there are none. No Americans have landed, and yet he sees them under every tree. Every bird is a Thunderbolt or Corsair, every shadow a bomb. He even accuses us of conspiring with the enemy. I'm certain things will return to normal once we have word from home. The jungle deafens you with its ghosts.	»
Your Son, Lance Corporal Mori

Ren's Letter

A letter from a Japanese soldier during WWII, passed from friend to friend until there was nobody left to carry them.

«	My Brother Ito, A terrible thing has happened. Major Mogi went mad and began shooting the men. I don't know how it happened, but he was arguing with Private Tadao when he killed him with his pistol and then began firing on us. We didn't know what to do. We're trained to kill the enemy, but he was our superior. We shot him. My thigh is infected and I am fighting fever. There are a handful of us left. It is hard to think. I am so hot. I have given my letters to Private Isao and Kei. They are young and smart and they will make sure my words will find their way to you. Live well. I'm sorry we argued as children. I'm sorry I wasn't a better brother.	»
Ren

Mogi's First Letter

One of the Japanese letters from WWII, from a time when the war was at its most desperate.

«	General Yamagata, I hope this letter finds you well on this Fall day. The weather here is sticky and unpleasant. You would find it invigorating, I'm sure. Forgive me for this familiarity, but I wouldn't be the soldier I am today were it not for your example. Although we have never met, I have lived my life by your discipline and loyalty to the Empire of Japan. I hope to make our Emperor proud by following in your steps. The Americans continue to bomb us like cowards. I have seen their smoke stacks traveling further north, skipping over us. They know better than to invade us, the Neck is impregnable, but they've destroyed our bunkers with lucky hits and what the bombs haven't killed, malaria has taken. I've decided to take the men into the jungle as you did in the First Great War against the Germans. My duty is simple… destroy the enemy. They shall find me ready and eager to spill their blood.	»
Major Kuro Mogi

Mogi's Second Letter

Another Japanese letter, stained and almost illegible from years of neglect.

«	General Yamagata, The devils and their sorties have killed many of my soldiers. I cannot tell you the anger and frustration I feel to see their planes fly over us and be unable to answer them properly with anti-aircraft fire. Or watching an invisible demon like malaria ravage my ranks. I've heard stories that these islands were cursed, but I thought it superstitious nonsense until today, when Private Tadao reported that the latest communications were too garbled to understand. He was so ashamed, he couldn't look me in the eyes. Private Tadao isn't a good soldier. I've had the men routinely beat him to instill shikata ga nai as they should have done in basic training, but he's never risen to the occasion.	»
Major Kuro Mogi

Mogi's Third Letter

A letter from a Japanese soldier during WWII, passed from friend to friend until there was nobody left to carry them.

«	General Yamagata, I am disappointed in my men, General Yamagata. I thought they could weather this better, but they have not. I can only imagine what I could have accomplished had I led your men as you did when you fought the Germans during the First World War. I am sure I have mentioned Private Tadao. He cries like an infant when he thinks no one watches, but everyone sees. He sickens me with his weakness, and he now spreads it like an illness. The other men are sad for home. They protect him, coddle him, as if he will become a man this way. I ask you, what use is a radioman if we have no high-powered radios to receive news. Private Tadao says that the radio relays on nearby islands have been destroyed, but I blame him.	»
Major Kuro Mogi

Mogi's Fourth Letter

«	General Yamagata, I am shocked and dismayed to report that what I had assumed was Private Tadao's incompetence is in fact sabotage. I was suspicious that none of the long-range radios were working, so I checked them. I am no expert in electronics, but even I could see that the tubes had been removed, the wires cut, and the battery missing. I thought him weak, not a saboteur. He is too simple to be a spy. Regardless, he has betrayed his follow soldiers, he has betrayed me, he has betrayed his oath to protect Japan, and he has betrayed the Imperial Family. I am going to execute Private Tadao, and if any of the men try to protect him, I will be forced to execute them as well.	»
Major Kuro Mogi

Tadao's First Letter

One of the Japanese letters from WWII, from a time when the war was at its most desperate.

«	My darling wife, my beautiful daughter, I don't know why I am writing to you. I know you'll never see these words, and if the Imperial Ancestors are merciful, you'll never know of my shame. I cannot tell you what possessed me to disable those radios, but these men… they are the only family I have left. When I heard the news, I felt like my heart had been cleaved. How could I make them suffer as I had? And now that I haven't told them, how can I have kept this from them? I wonder, when the bomb fell, were you tending in the garden? Were you feeding Aika? Did you feel anything? Did you even know what happened? These questions haunt me, and I can only pray that you did not suffer. I pray that you died ignorant of what came next.	»
Tadao

Tadao's Second Letter

«	My Darling Wife, I don't know why I keep writing to you. Perhaps I am hoping you survived somehow. Perhaps I wish that I could come home and find you and Aika waiting for me. My heart wishes it with a terrible ache, but I suspect I know the truth: that you are gone. And Aika. And Hiroshima. Major Mogi watches me with a hateful gaze. It's as if he knows the truth, but how can he? I can't bear to face him. I'm afraid that if he confronts me again, I'll break down and finally tell him everything about Hiroshima. The men try to protect me from him, but what have I done? I was too scared to tell them the truth, and now it's too late. In a moment of grief, I smashed the radios and betrayed everyone. Perhaps it's better I die. Perhaps then I can be with you and Aika.	»
Tadao

Shinji's Letter

Another Japanese letter, stained and almost illegible from years of neglect.

«	Little Sister, These are my final words. I will commit seppuku once I finish this letter, it will be the last honorable thing I do. But before I die I must tell someone the truth. Tadao betrayed us. I read his letter. He sabotaged our radios after hearing of the bomb in Hiroshima. I cannot blame him. He wished to spare us from the ugly truth. The Major wasn't as understanding. He executed Tadao and then turned his sidearm on anyone who protested. We fought back, killing him, and now I am the only one left. Ren died last night from an infection. It pains me to know that I had a hand in killing Major Mogi, he was once a good man. I hope our ancestors understand how dire the situation was and have mercy on me, and I hope that one day you can read these words and forgive me. Goodbye.	»
Shinji

Hayato's First Letter

«	To Colonel Imada Daichi I hope your family is well. I apologize for stepping outside the chain of command, but I feel that Lieutenant Colonel Yamada Masahiro is not taking my worries seriously, and is thus unfit to continue commanding this facility and its experiments. I must report that Project Tenka and Project Kyouken would have progressed much further if the Lieutenant Colonel would just listen to me. Instead, he has cut me out of his inner circle of advisors and has forbid me from communicating with anyone. I have been forced to write multiple copies of my letters and give them to loyal soldiers and scientists in the hope that one reaches you. Please, I am a prisoner of the Lieutenant Colonel's ambitions and unable to serve the Emperor because of his meddling.	»
Dr. Koga Hayato

Hayato's Second Letter

One of the Japanese letters from WWII, from a time when the war was at its most desperate.

«	To Colonel Imada Daichi I can only assume that my previous letters and the charges I have leveled against Lieutenant Colonel Yamada Masahiro and his continued incompetence have not yet reached you or you would have seen the truth and replaced the Lieutenant Colonel by now. I believe that the Lieutenant Colonel has intercepted several of my letters already, and that he has sent men to search my room in secret. I see the truth of it now. He fears me. He is afraid of my success and covets the glory for himself when Project Tenka harnesses the power of lightning and Project Kyouken the fury of the animals. He knows I will bring a new sunrise to the Empire of Japan. I fear I must protect the critical findings of my research from him and my team until you intercede in the matter. It is the only way to protect the Empire and the Emperor from his ambitions.	»
Dr. Koga Hayato

Hayato's Third Letter

«	To Colonel Imada Daichi Why have you not written to me? I am sure that you must have received at least one of the sixty-seven letters I sent to you. I have been a fool, a blind stupid fool. I confronted Lieutenant Colonel Yamada Masahiro about his attempts to sabotage me, but he feigned innocence and surprise. I understand now. He was not the man I had to worry about. He is too dim-witted to challenge me. It was you. You ordered him to steal my research so that you alone could reap the glory. The decoration for the Order of the Rising Sun was to be my honor, but I see now that you want to deny me that privilege. You have condemned Japan for your hubris, and I will not let you get away with it. You cannot keep me silenced.	»
Dr. Koga Hayato

Hayato's Fourth Letter

«	To Colonel Imada Daichi You wanted to sabotage me, but you did not expect me to sabotage you instead. By the time you have read this, I will have released the infected animals in the Kyouken lab and forced an overload in the Tenka generators. And when the Imperial Japanese Army sends soldiers to uncover what happened, you will no longer be able to hide the truth, and I will be a hero of the Empire. I only wish I could be there to see the look on your face when they come to arrest you, when they strip you of your rank, and drive your humiliated family into the streets. I want you to remember that you called this upon yourself….	»
Dr. Koga Hayato

Masahiro's Letter

«	To Colonel Imada Daichi Dr. Koga Hayato attempted to sabotage the projects, but he was shot while being apprehended and we could not question him on the reasons for his actions. Fortunately, there was no real harm to the projects, and I would appreciate a replacement for Dr. Koga as soon as possible.	»
Lieutenant Colonel Yamada Masahiro

Hurk's First Letter

Another Japanese letter, stained and almost illegible from years of neglect.

«	To whoever reads this, I'm Hurk. So, I found these old letters, right? In Japanese or something, but these ones were totally faded out and really hard to read, so I figured nobody would care what some dead army dude was saying about shit that happened during the Civil War. No offense to dead army dude's family, but he's dead and I seriously need this paper. So if you're a dude or dudette reading this, please be on the lookout for a white and gray macaque monkey named Gilbert. I named him that. Gilbert is evil. I don't mean throwing crap at you evil. I mean holding it so you can see it and then rubbing it in your face. I think that if Gilbert could talk, he'd rub shit in your face while saying something clever like "monkey see, monkey do". Yeah, totally bent. Anyways, he got away from me, right, and I need to get him back before —	»
Hurk

Hurk's Second Letter

«	To whoever reads this, It's Hurk again. I ran out of space on that last piece of paper, so I was saying I needed to stop Gilbert before he started his rain (rein?) of terror, right? Too late. He already started. Gilbert's got other monkeys following him like a pack, doing his bidding. It's like watching cheerleaders, man. You know the way cheerleaders move around in a pack, right, always following that one really hot chick with the blond hair, the tight ass, and the perfect tits? And it's like, every time they walk past you, they move like they're in slow motion, and they look at you like they don't even see you. Totally Lacy Barnstrom hot, right? She was the head cheerleader at my school, and I did shit to her yearbook pictures that totally got the pages all fucked up. Shit, I'm out of space again.	»
Hurk

Hurk's Third Letter

«	To whoever reads this, Okay, so I got sidetracked by Lacy Barnstrom and her yearbook pics, but you would too if you knew her. Actually, I hear she makes porn now. Totally gotta check that shit out because dude! My angel is a centerfold! How awesome is that? Anyways, I gotta stop Gilbert. See, I taught Gilbert how to pull the pins on grenades and how to throw them. And now I think he likes it. He's gotten a taste for blowing shit up and he's teaching the other monkeys how to do it. Scratch that. I think he's teaching them how to pull the pins on grenades, but he isn't teaching them how to throw the grenades! Sick, right? This monkey is off the vine, man. Anyways, I'm following the sounds of the explosions. Little dude can't run forever.	»
Hurk

Hurk's Fourth Letter

«	To whoever reads this, I found more washed out letters from Japanese Civil War dudes… how many of them are there? Anyways, it's over. I did it. I caught up to Gilbert and his pack of monkeys. There weren't many of them left, and the survivors… they had that look in their eyes, the look that said "you haven't seen the shit I've seen… you weren't there, man, you weren't there!" I had no choice. I had to challenge Gilbert to dominance of the pack. It was the only way to save the survivors. Gilbert chose the weapons… the grenades I brought, like I knew he would. And that's how I beat him, because the one thing I never taught the little dude, was how to fuck with the timers. I don't think I'll ever forget the look on his face when I caught the grenade… and threw it back. That startled "o" face he made will haunt me for the rest of my life. But the pack's free now… the pack's free.	»
Hurk