Kamikazes By: Ashley Neal

The Role of Kamikazes During WWII The main role of Japanese Kamikaze pilots was to crash their airplanes into American ships in an effort to sink them. They were members of Japan’s 205 th air group, and they believed that by sacrificing their life for the Emperor, they would be guaranteed a place in heaven.

Impact on WWII Kamikaze pilots had a huge impact throughout WWII. During Pearl Harbor, Japanese pilots crashed their planes into battleships in the Harbor. Earlier, in October of 1944, the Australian battleship, HMAS Australia was hit by a Kamikaze and was forced to retire to the New Hebrides for repairs. The same day, five Kamikaze pilots attempted to hit the USS St. Lo. Although only one plane hit the ship, it resulted in massive fires and eventually sank.

Impact on WWII Cont. Due to the success of these attacks, the Kamikaze program was expanded and in the next few months over 2,000 planes attacked U.S. ships. From October 5, 1944-January 25, 1945, Kamikazes sank two carriers and three destroyers. They also damaged 23 carriers, five battleships, nine cruisers, 23 destroyers, and 27 other ships. During these attacks 738 Americans were killed with an additional 1,200 wounded.

Japanese Portrayal There are two historical portrayals of the Kamikazes. The Japanese and American views are vastly different. The Japanese view of the suicide pilots has changed over time and the changes reflect the political climate. During the war, the Japanese people revered the pilots as heroes because they went to their deaths defending their country. One pilot who survived his suicide mission said, “We had no other way to fight back. This was the only other way to prevent the U.S. from advancing into our homeland” (Digger History). Another survivor who crash landed before reaching his target said, “I had no fear, I wanted to sacrifice my life” (Digger History). This was a positive view of the Kamikazes as evidenced by the quotes found above.

Japanese Portrayal cont. After the war ended, the image of Kamikaze pilots changed. The Japanese criticized the pilots and held them in contempt. The word Kamikaze became a synonym for crazy reckless behavior. This change was due in part to the suffering from the effects of the war such as the bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the economic and military sanctions imposed by their surrender. The Japanese people also blamed the military leaders and the suicide bombers for their suffering. You can see that this feeling is negative and is radically different than the feelings during the war.

Japanese Portrayal Cont. In recent years, Japanese feelings have once again changed and the pilots are looked at as national heroes. Ex servicemen pleaded that the public had to make distinctions between soldiers or military men, and the military cliques that were ultimately responsible for the war and it’s conduct. One source was quoted as saying “Kamikazes only killed military personnel, not a single civilian was lost” (Digger History). An additional reason for the change in perspective is a museum that is dedicated to the Kamikaze pilots. The theme of the museum portrays the Kamikazes as heroes that had the Samurai warrior spirit. Obviously the thought has reverted back to the positive support of the Kamikaze spirit enjoyed during the war.

American Portrayal in History American knowledge of the Kamikaze bombers is limited. The word is used to describe anyone who engages in reckless behavior without regard to personal safety. During the war, censorship regulations from prevented any details of the suicide attacks from being published. Americans did not separate the suicide pilots from other Japanese soldiers and looked at all Japanese soldiers as fanatical warriors. The attitudes of Americans have not changed much since the war ended. At a reunion of Veterans who survived the attacks, a survivor said “he believes that suicide attacks during WWII and today have the same root cause and that is fanaticism” (W Gordon). This general belief in American society reinforces the negative connotation which most American’s view Kamikaze pilots by the comparison of Kamikazes to terrorists.

Japanese-Fair and Accurate I believe Japanese history has portrayed the Kamikaze in a fair and accurate manner. Most of the time the Japanese people have seen them as heroes defending their country. Hideaki Kase said “they were not fanatics, they were not brainwashed, they were just ordinary kids” (Digger History). He also said “suicide can be honorable if the act is committed for the community or the motherland” (Digger History). “Many are moved to tears by the haunting faces of the boys about to die and the emotional poems and farewell letters they wrote” (Digger History). The Japanese government is partly responsible for the views of the Japanese people.

Japanese-Fair and Accurate Cont. For example, “Four popular movies about Kamikaze pilots, released from , do not show them crashing into ships, but rather being shot down by the enemy or bursting into flames and crashing into the sea” (W Gordon).

American-Fair and Accurate I also believe American history has portrayed the Kamikazes in a fair, accurate, and consistent manner. Japan was the aggressor and used a tactic that was un-thinkable to Americans and gave the Japanese an unfair advantage. From the very beginning, the Americans looked at the Kamikazes as having a “blind fanatical wish to die” (W Gordon). Americans viewed death and destruction firsthand when the planes crashed into their ships. Soldiers described the war as “a struggle between men who want to die and men who fight to live” (W Gordon). For the most part, the American people knew nothing about the Kamikazes other than they crashed their planes into American ships.

Videos

Cited Sources