I often times look back on the Japanese tactic of the kamikaze as a dying empire's last gasps. And while I still believe that these men knew exactly what they were doing and had thought this through a lot, I also believe that this ... method was supported by those in higher offices who realized the days of the elite Sea Eagles were over, and that now they had not the time nor material to train new aces. So instead they gave them rudimentary pilot training and a simple mission; penetrate the fleet defenses and crash themselves into an American ship. I understand that these were college students, and had done much thinking on the subject, but I think that often timess college students are some of the most idealistic people out there. We are entering the prime of our lives and sense that we have the power to really change things. So it seems logical to me that indeed, many of the one way pilots were our age, and fresh from the universities at which they probably originally wanted to wait out the war. But now with the hated Americans moving on the Home Islands, the time to act was now, and with their beliefs, no greater honor could be bestowed than to serve the new divine wind to save their country.
A side note on divine winds, there was a ridiculous typhoon that hammered Okinawa soon after the US had captured it, destroying about 10 percent of the ships anchored in harbor and around the isalnd. Experts have postulated that had this occured during the invasion, it would have been disasterous for the landing craft and amphibious assualt vehicles used by the Marines to hit the beaches, possibly causing the invasion to fail. Perhaps the divine wind was just bit late.
5 comments:
That is a very interesting side note about a post-capture typhoon. But the fact that it was college students who were willing to go and pilot suicide missions still bewilders me. It seems that the best and brightest would be the ones further away from the war/ trying to end the war instead of being at the forefront.
The Kamikazes were viewed as unorthodox and barbaric by the U.S. becuase of their lack of value on human life. Despite this, their tactics were immensely affective in that they were able to destroy what they wanted. The way I look at it, Kamikazes were the begining of smart bombers.
I suppose in a way, they WERE trying to end the war. They wanted it to end in their favor. Doesn't everyone?
It does seem hard to explain when thinking about thinking Kamikazes' actions with a western mindset. I would suggest, however, that this isnt evidence that young people are easily swayed by nationalist calls for action; rather, it is dependent on cultural infuences. In the same way that soldiers fought to the death in accordance with honor for both ones family and country. They may have been young and impressionable but I dont think it was the deciding factor.
In comparison to US and other western cultures, the people of Japan place a much higher importance on family heritage and ancestry. Honor for ones family and creating a higher standing for the whole family isnt the same sort of motivation that alleid soldiers had. To me the reason why they used young intelectuals has more to do with the fact that they likely had a better understanding of ancient texts which encourage family whelth and honor.
Very true, Andrew. It could very well be a cultural thing as opposed to a more universal age grouping.
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