ww2 japanese suicide attacks

**Kagemusha** · 05-06-2006, 17:56

We have to remember that in Japanese culture the worst thing that could happen to invidual was loosing face. Even death was better then loosing your face. That is why for example Seppuku was thought as better option then surrender. But we have to remember that it was not black and white.For example during Sengoku Jidai period when castle fell the Lord usually committed Seppuku or died fighting.In Samurai ethics it was right thing to do to accept ones responsibility in face of failure.But the normal soldiers rarely would have committed mass suicide but surrendered.And in couple years they could be fighting in for their new masters.In all armies through out the ages there has been suicide missions and soldiers that accepted those while knowing they wouldnt return.Kamikaze were basicly planes turned into missiles by loading those full of explosives.The thing was that they needed to be operated by men.And Japan had lots of soldiers willing to die for Emperor.Its simple calculation.If you loose one man and airplane and possibly destroy enemy ship,is that acceptable prize?How does that differ for example modern day warfare and infantry man shooting his rocket propelled granade against modern MainBattleTank that will even when destroyed shoot all its weapons in the direction where it spotted that RPG.And kill the Anti tank soldier? Its also simple calculation loosing one man and destroying a MBT,is that too big prize to pay?

**Avicenna** · 05-06-2006, 20:19

In the man's point of view, yes, that is quite a big price to pay. They didn't have a choice, though. For all you English out there, it was like in WWI: do what you're supposed to or else white feather.

**Kagemusha** · 05-06-2006, 20:54

Originally Posted by Tiberius

In the man's point of view, yes, that is quite a big price to pay. They didn't have a choice, though. For all you English out there, it was like in WWI: do what you're supposed to or else white feather.

Thats War.People die.If you are a soldier you have to be prepared to die for your country.Its terrible but War is terrible business.

**Papewaio** · 05-08-2006, 00:14

It is not only in battle and it is still a modern day way of saving face.

Google this "

japanese vet suicide mad cow disease"

A Japanese veterinarian who failed to diagnose mad cow disease in a sick dairy cow has apparently committed suicide, health officials said on Tuesday, a day after Japan confirmed its fourth case of the illness in cattle.

The news came as the Health Ministry moved to step up mad-cow testing to try to ease concerns over the latest outbreak, which has reignited a health scare that devastated Japan's food sector last year.

The 29-year-old veterinarian, an employee of a public health center near the site of the latest outbreak on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, was found dead at her home on Monday, officials at the center said.

Police are investigating, media reports said.

The veterinarian had left a note apologizing for failing to detect the disease in the six-year-old Holstein cow after it was brought into the center for examination, the officials said.