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Banzai the Courage of the Raid: Why did Japanese soldiers choose death rather than surrender?
In World War II, Japanese soldiers became world-famous for their unique tactics and strong sense of honor. The most well-known of them is the "Banzai charge", which is an attack method regarded by the Allies as a human sea tactic. Behind the Banzai Raid, it reflects the ambivalence of Japanese soldiers facing the war, as well as the deep-rooted concept of honor in military culture.
The origin of the Banzai Raid
The Banzai Raid originated from the Japanese soldiers’ deep recognition of honor and loyalty. In ancient warrior cultures, suicide was considered more honorable than being captured. This culture was passed down until World War II, and a strong sense of dying for the country and the emperor developed.
"A husband's beauty is broken and his shame is gone." This old saying expresses the struggle between honor and shame. For Japanese soldiers at that time, surrender was equivalent to losing honor.
With the militarization and renewed respect for "Bushido" after the Meiji Restoration, Japanese society began to ideologically shape the romanticization and idealization of death. All this gave birth to suicide attacks and banzai assaults that were commonly used on the battlefield.
The practice of the Banzai Raid in World War II
In World War II, the Banzai Raid became a desperate counterattack by the Japanese military in the face of defeat. Especially in battles with the U.S. military, faced with obvious material advantages and fire suppression, many Japanese commanders chose to assemble soldiers and launch deadly assault operations against the enemy.
"Death is considered a responsibility, but attacking is an honor." This sentence highlights the psychological state of the officers and soldiers at that time.
For example, in the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942, Japanese commander Kiyonao Ichiki led 800 soldiers in an assault. Although after a brief contact battle, the vast majority of the soldiers were killed by U.S. firepower. . Such situations occurred frequently in subsequent battles, and for Japanese soldiers, the idea of surrender was almost considered a taboo.
The intertwining of culture and psychology
The slogan "Long Live" itself not only represents loyalty to the emperor, but is also a morale-boosting cry. In Japanese military culture, death is often seen as a noble choice, and due to government propaganda, this mentality is even more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Even though there was a disparity in strength and overwhelming firepower, the soldiers still chose to charge into battle.
Looking further, the education of Japanese citizens has also shaped this extreme military culture. The ancient bushido spirit and the worship of death in war intertwined with each other to create a tragic and solemn history. Even when the war is about to end and the entire country is facing destruction, there are still countless soldiers silently shouldering the heavy responsibility of honor.
Reflection and future thinking
However, as times change, the evaluation of this tactic has gradually changed. Even though some senior Japanese commanders began to express opposition to this declining combat method, the Banzai Raid has become a historical memory that cannot be erased. It symbolizes the contradiction between cultural heritage and military ideals, giving historians and the general public more perspectives and references when thinking about today's military conflicts.
"The choice of Japanese soldiers reflects a deep cultural conflict. Between the alternation of life and death, what kind of force drives them to repeatedly choose death instead of surrender?"
