11.01.2008, 15:05
I read that no Japanese kamikaze were ever locked into their cockpits - that supposed fact was just Allied propaganda. All the men were volunteers and it was a great honour to be selected as a kamikaze. You had to be selected because there were more volunteers than needed. Only the 'lucky' ones got to join their ancestors that way.
The business about being locked in was an attempt to make the kamikaze seem slightly less frightening. After all, if a man is locked in he must be scared himself mustn't he? For western minds, the idea of a man being so reconciled to dying that he will cold-bloodedly kill himself in the process of killing his enemies is unnerving. But for the Japanese it was just a logical extension of their warrior creed promoted by the military, based on Shinto religions. Life everlasting and honour amongst their ancestors in paradise - that's why they died so willingly. They were also very young men and subject to peer pressure, which no doubt played a part.
Not all Japanese military men felt self sacrifice was an honourable death - but then, they didn't have to volunteer.
The business about being locked in was an attempt to make the kamikaze seem slightly less frightening. After all, if a man is locked in he must be scared himself mustn't he? For western minds, the idea of a man being so reconciled to dying that he will cold-bloodedly kill himself in the process of killing his enemies is unnerving. But for the Japanese it was just a logical extension of their warrior creed promoted by the military, based on Shinto religions. Life everlasting and honour amongst their ancestors in paradise - that's why they died so willingly. They were also very young men and subject to peer pressure, which no doubt played a part.
Not all Japanese military men felt self sacrifice was an honourable death - but then, they didn't have to volunteer.