A Sub Lieutenant from Shikoko

Among my father's photographs is this intriguing image of Sub Lieutenant Sugar Mitsuaki Sato. On the back of the tiny thumbnail print is written: "Sub Lieutenant Sugar Mitsuaki Sato No 3-1 Igacko 2nd Tokashimo City Shikoku  Japan". The Sub Lieutenant is standing with an impressive looking sword (that may not be standard issue), and behind him can be seen the tail of an aeroplane camouflaged with cut branches.

I don't know if "Sugar" was a nickname given to him by the allied troops and if this suggests that he may have had a role following the surrender. I am assuming that he may have been the pilot of the plane or at least associated with it in some way because he seems to be wearing flying gloves and scarf. Or perhaps he found it for them, and that the "No 3-1 Igacko 2nd" was his unit (although my limited internet researched have so far failed to find it). Maybe he was asked to stand in front of the plane for the photograph after his surrender. With further research I think that it should be possible to work out the model of the plane (it has a very distinctive end to the fuselage that can be seen behind the Sun Lieutenant). It is possible that he is himself still alive.

Any information would be welcome but, in the meantime, it remains an interesting piece of history waiting to be further revealed.