Yamato Damashii/Japanese Spirit
Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Daisan Shoutai
Imperial Japanese Army Third Platoon

While reading this primer, keep in mind that the generations before us, especially of the war period
were significantly different than they are today towards race, culture, national background, etc.  Also
keep in mind that the world wars were perhaps the only occasion when an individual of the era may
have seen and experienced another culture and nation under the worst of circumstances, being a
truly international conflict.. A young US Marine from the countryside of Wisconsin who never left his
home would probably be startled by the otherwise alien culture of the Japanese country boy who
likewise, has never left his town; all the while both spend time fighting each other in a hot, humid,
exotic jungle never wanted to go to.   
He WAS Japanese spirit embodied.  He is elected as the defender of his nation.  He was a warrior
whom is tasked to maintain the order and prosperity within the Empire, to uphold the virtues of his
culture against the vice of all enemies foreign and domestic, to serve the officers appointed over him
and above all, obey the orders of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan.

During the Meiji Restoration many Samurai noblemen and leaders would form the cadre of
professional leaders developing Japan's new military.  The military traditions and beliefs of Japan's
past enthusiastically thrived as the new Japan was forged.  Even during the first Sino-Japanese War,
Chinese POWs enjoyed favorable treatment by the Japanese (as mandated by proper warrior ethics
and manners) and were often employed as reliable scouts, spies, and laborers.  To this extent, the
Japanese may serve as a model military force of the early 20th Century.

Japanese military core values were re-envisioned by the Meiji Emperor as he decree in the Imperial
Rescript for Soldiers and Sailors.  The following core values were to be practiced by all military
personnel, and were of the most important military codes to be recognized by any military member.

Suicide
Japan has been a culture fascinated with death, and suicide has been a convenient and honorable
way to solve problems in a society that regularly discourages confrontation. Naturally the suicides
conducted by military personnel have romantic roots.  It is better for an officer to take his own life
and maintain for him, his Japanese dignity, than to be taken prisoner; tactically, suicide might be
preferred than compromising intelligence.  Being captured is a fate worse than death in battle, for
you cannot continue the mission nor can you die trying.

"Banzai" Charge

Why Western sources are fascinated with this practice as being exclusively Japanese is surely
strange!  When a group has no option except death or surrender, dying in a blaze of "glory" would
be a far better option than keeling over and giving yourself to any enemy you wish (or are ordered)
not to surrender to. Every nation's military has conducted similar actions, and is still to this day
represented in action movies or other entertainment media of all kinds.  Unfortunately for Japan, this
was a desperate, regular occurrence particularly during the Pacific War.     

Then why did so many Japanese do this en mass? Simple. The Japanese of the past were far
severely group oriented than their modern day descendants. If the soldier or soldiers were aware
their number was up, they made the best of it, the Japanese way and died together.

Another very unfortunate reason for the suicidal charges is the indifference and inflexibility of senior
and general officers.  Though case by case, often a senior officer may instruct a group to simply
"take a position." If asked how then "By fighting and killing the enemy!" or "Dying!" would have been
a common response should a junior officer or NCO have the audacity to question a superior.  
Perhaps this becomes a cultural flaw when practiced in the (then) modern military, as taking the
initiative and achieving success outside of your senior's orders would be a shameful way to do one's
job in the Japanese mind as it would express distrust and more importantly disrespect toward the
senior.

Treatment of Prisoners

A risky subject but a subject that must be tackled.  The Japanese and Asians in general are not
fond of having prisoners. Period.  To surrender is to forfeit your humanity, to destroy your honor,
disrespect your nation, shame your family, and begin a "non-existence."  You would become "non-
person."  Unfortunately, Japan never recognized the fact that Western POWs are of a an entirely
different culture, instead treatment of the POWs was conducted in a Japanese fashion.  Another
variable to factor in is the fact that the Japanese simply could not logistically afford to imprison and
manage POWs, the average Japanese infantry company had it just as good or worse as many
POWs!  Japan of WWII was a third-world nation that simply did not have the economy or resources
to properly care of POWs let alone her own soldiers that the United States or Great Britain enjoyed.

On the rare occasion a Japanese soldier surrendered, in his mind he became a slave.  His ease of
cooperation with his captor was his way of making the relationship as smooth as possible, so as not
to displease the new master and save what little honor he may have left.  

Though the Japanese showed no quarter to those that surrendered to them, they did not expect to
receive quarter themselves, particularly with American forces.

Feelings Regarding the Chinese

Any student of Asian history or culture is acutely aware of the uneasy relationships (or lack of)
shared between the nations of Asia and the Pacific Isles.  Japan and China are far from being
models of friendship and peace, though relations today are the best they have been in centuries
and they continue to improve.

Japan HAS committed atrocities against the Chinese during WWII, there is no question about it.  
Japan has committed atrocities against the Chinese since the end of the Tang dynasty of China
during the late 600s when official, peaceful relations between the nations were truly terminated.  
The horrors of the Nanking Occupation and human experimentation conducted by Unit 731 were
terrible occurrences, and there simply is no excuse.  There are reasons why certain events occured
though, terrible reasons, however no excuse nor apology can be made justifying Japan's, as well as
any warring nation's crimes against humanity.  

Rising ultra nationalism, militant extremists taking control of the government, and embracing the
notion that a nation is superior to another pushed Japan toward war with China, and eventually into
World War II.  Specifically after the Russo-Japanese war when Japan was denied the equality that
the Western powers shared because of race, and for the same reasons after WWI, the growing anti-
Western sentiment and feelings of alienation fueled Japan’s fires and allowed the country's leaders
to force the nation onto the warpath.  Outside of legitimate national reasons for aggression, Japan
used the mask of spreading culture and civilization to her Asian neighbors and to liberate the people
from the clutches of White, Western civilization.  Similar to the “Manifest Destiny” of the USA, severe
atrocities were committed in the name of the leader, the nation, and for the supposed sake of
bettering a “lesser and underpriveleged” people.

The Empires of Japan and China had fought numerous years throughout their history.  The rivalry
and hatred burns deep.  These feelings were capitalized upon by both nations during WWII, and the
feelings manifested themselves into terrible deeds.  China and Japan may never be true allies, but
their history has shown the world their ability to be the greatest enemies.

But please, give PEACE a chance!!! V_(^ ^)
"Ware wa...Yamato damashii!"
Gunjin wa Chuusetsu (A soldier/sailor is loyal)
Gunjin wa Reigi (A soldier/sailor is polite)
Gunjin wa Buyu (A soldier/sailor is brave)
Gunjin wa Shingi (A soldier/sailor is trustworthy)
Gunjin wa Shiso (A soldier/sailor is frugal)
If any of this sounds familiar to an American service member, past or present, it
should.  The similarities of the oath of service or core values to any member of a
nationally armed force aren't coincidental.  Japan's military mission is the same as
every other nation.