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

While reading this primer please keep in mind that generations before us, especially under the
influence of wartime propaganda, possessed significantly different attitudes towards race, culture,
national background, etc.  Worth mentioning is that the World Wars were truly international in that so
many people of differing backgrounds were thrust upon war's ugly battlefields and it was the first time
many of these youths had left home and experienced another culture, through filtered lenses and
behind the sights of a weapon.
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.  The Japanese
serviceman, like any other country's, is a fighting professional who is dedicated to a life of honor and
the defense of his home.

During the Meiji Restoration many Samurai noblemen and leaders would form the cadre of
professional leaders responsible for developing Japan's new military.  The military traditions and
beliefs of Japan's past enthusiastically thrived as the men forged the new Japan.  Even during the first
Sino-Japanese War, Chinese POWs enjoyed favorable treatment by the Japanese (as mandated by
merciful 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.

The Japanese military's 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 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 by the individual than risking an intelligence compromise.  Being captured is a fate worse
than death in battle, for you cannot continue the mission nor can you die trying in the former
Japanese mindset.

"Banzai" Charge

Why Western sources are fascinated with this practice as being exclusively Japanese is surely
strange!  For a group to possess no tactical option other than 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. This idea has frequently occurred in world military history, and
to this day is still represented in action movies or other entertainment mediums.  Unfortunately for
Japan, this was a desperate and regular occurrence particularly during the Pacific War.     

Then why did so many Japanese do this en mass?  Japanese of the past were far severely group
oriented than their modern day descendants. If a unit became aware that they no longer possessed
an "escape" route in a tactically disadvantageous situation, it would be better to die the Japanese
way with your friends and comrades.

Another very unfortunate reason for the suicidal charges is the indifference and inflexibility of senior
and general officers.  Though this muse be considered 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 conduct oneself as the Japanese mindset would consider it an expression of
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
historically, not fond of having prisoners.  The armed conflicts that have been waged on Asian soil
throughout history are quite different than those waged in Europe, true to a policy of "Total War"
Asians seldom surrendered and seldom yet took prisoners.  To surrender is to forfeit your humanity,
to destroy your honor, disrespect your nation, shame your family, and begin a life of "non-
existence."  You would become a "non-person."  Unfortunately, Japan never recognized the fact that
Western POWs are of a an entirely different culture and instead extended treatment of the POWs in
a Japanese fashion.  Another variable to factor 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 by Western standards.

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 never expected it
themselves, particularly when facing 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 better than they have been in
centuries and 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
occurred 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 of people 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 underprivileged” people.

The Empires of Japan and China had fought numerous times 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 any 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:
To fight and win armed conflicts!