What Did Kamikaze Pilots Believe?
It is terrible, but interesting to think about what your state of mind must be to give you the ability to sacrifice your life willingly. This page will explore not only the Kamikaze's state of mind, but the factors that affected it.
Kamikaze- Suicide Pilots of World War II
This website is credible because it has functioning hyperlinks, is current, and has contact information.
Kamikaze
This website is credible because it has functioning hyperlinks, is current, and has a list of references.
What Motivated the Kamikazes?
This website is credible because it was put forth by the military, is current, and has working hyperlinks.
my findings!
What did Kamikaze pilots believe?
Website #1 answers this question in a very straight forward way. "They believed that dying for Japan and their emperor was very honorable" (website #1). As this quote says, they saw what they were doing as very honorable. The Japanese culture values honor very, very highly, and therefore they saw themselves as doing the most important thing they could. "But not all pilots volunteered out of love for their homeland. Pilots who didn'tvolunteer were seen as cowards. Some professional pilots did it because they were forced to" (website #1). Apparently not all pilots did what they did for honor. The Japanese forced many professional pilots to become kamikaze, or pressured young men into becoming something they did not want. "They saw themselves much like the samurai of the Middle Ages, brave Japanese warriors." (website #1). They perceived what they were doing was honorable and right. The Kamikaze developed a sense of pride in what they were doing, seeing themselves like the warriors of old.
Website #2 focuses on the state of mind and motivations of the kamikaze, as well as their motivation. "The tradition of death instead of defeat, capture, and perceived shame was deeply entrenched in Japanese military culture. It was one of the primary traditions in the samarai life and the Bushido code: loyalty and honor until death" (website #2). This shows the kamikaze saw what they were doing as right and commendable. They were drilled into thinking of their purpose as worthy and honorable. "These things, among others, were meant to put the pilot into the mindset in which he would be mentally ready to die" (website #2). Kamikaze training was much mental training, as the government needed soldiers who were mentally prepared to die. If they were not ready to die, they would be ineffective. "Publishers also played up the idea that the kamikaze were enshrined at Yasukuni and ran exaggerated stories of kamikaze bravery – there were even fairy tales for little children that promoted the kamikaze" (website #2) . The Japanese government needed to promote the kamikaze, in order to gain volunteers. As children were raised with skewed views of the kamikaze, the ones who volunteered must have had an odd perspective on what they were doing.
Website #3 focuses more on the motivations of the Kamikaze. "Each was dedicated without reservation to his country's welfare and stated position in the context of the war" (website #3). This passage leads to the belief that the kamikaze saw this as their duty to their country. They disregarded personal thoughts and beliefs on what they were being ordered to do, allowing nationalism to control their actions. "Yet the lips of the old Japanese kamikaze tremble as he recounts waiting to be ordered on the attack—and as he pictures his war-year comrades flying off to their deaths" (website #3). Even with as much training and mental stability as the kamikaze had, it would be irrational to say they were ready, or excited for their duty. They volunteered for honor, or not to be seen as a coward, but when it comes down to it, they were just as unsure of themselves as any other soldier. "Yet although behaviors differ within cultures, basic human emotions remain very much the same, no matter the group" (website #3). This is a thought provoking passage, and leads one to question the way one might approach the main question on this page. As contrasting as the Japanese culture was, and is, this passage holds true. Although the Kamikaze might have had motives which are difficult to understand, the basis of what they were feeling and thinking as they carried out their duty is not as alien as one might think.
Website #2 focuses on the state of mind and motivations of the kamikaze, as well as their motivation. "The tradition of death instead of defeat, capture, and perceived shame was deeply entrenched in Japanese military culture. It was one of the primary traditions in the samarai life and the Bushido code: loyalty and honor until death" (website #2). This shows the kamikaze saw what they were doing as right and commendable. They were drilled into thinking of their purpose as worthy and honorable. "These things, among others, were meant to put the pilot into the mindset in which he would be mentally ready to die" (website #2). Kamikaze training was much mental training, as the government needed soldiers who were mentally prepared to die. If they were not ready to die, they would be ineffective. "Publishers also played up the idea that the kamikaze were enshrined at Yasukuni and ran exaggerated stories of kamikaze bravery – there were even fairy tales for little children that promoted the kamikaze" (website #2) . The Japanese government needed to promote the kamikaze, in order to gain volunteers. As children were raised with skewed views of the kamikaze, the ones who volunteered must have had an odd perspective on what they were doing.
Website #3 focuses more on the motivations of the Kamikaze. "Each was dedicated without reservation to his country's welfare and stated position in the context of the war" (website #3). This passage leads to the belief that the kamikaze saw this as their duty to their country. They disregarded personal thoughts and beliefs on what they were being ordered to do, allowing nationalism to control their actions. "Yet the lips of the old Japanese kamikaze tremble as he recounts waiting to be ordered on the attack—and as he pictures his war-year comrades flying off to their deaths" (website #3). Even with as much training and mental stability as the kamikaze had, it would be irrational to say they were ready, or excited for their duty. They volunteered for honor, or not to be seen as a coward, but when it comes down to it, they were just as unsure of themselves as any other soldier. "Yet although behaviors differ within cultures, basic human emotions remain very much the same, no matter the group" (website #3). This is a thought provoking passage, and leads one to question the way one might approach the main question on this page. As contrasting as the Japanese culture was, and is, this passage holds true. Although the Kamikaze might have had motives which are difficult to understand, the basis of what they were feeling and thinking as they carried out their duty is not as alien as one might think.