What was the Motivation for Buddhist Jap Pilots to suicide / Kamikaze attack our Naval Forces ?

Question

Last ditch effort ?

Answer 1

bringing honor to their name, and money to their family.

Answer 2

i've got confidence in case you analyze it you will discover that maximum jap militia at that component have been Shinto, no longer Buddhist. sure, there became countless desperation in touch on the jap component by way of that component. All their experienced pilots were killed - many kamikaze's had decrease than 10 hrs flight time. Many ignored their goals through fact they weren't nicely-knowledgeable pilots. the term kamikaze, or as has been published 'divine wind,' is a connection with the Russo-jap conflict of 40 years in the previous, whilst the jap fleet became effective over the Russins through an intervening typhoon, or divine wind, that extra victory. Their WW2 kamikaze's have been perhaps the 1st authentic "suicide bombers," yet a minimum of their assaults have been honorable, in time of conflict and against warships.

Answer 3

I believe if you research it you will find that most Japanese military at that time were Shinto, not Buddhist.

Yes, there was a lot of desperation involved on the Japanese side by that time. All their experienced pilots had been killed - many kamikaze's had less than 10 hrs flight time. Many missed their targets simply because they were not well-trained pilots.

the term kamikaze, or as has been posted 'divine wind,' is a reference to the Russo-Japanese war of 40 years earlier, when the Japanese fleet was victorious over the Russins due to an intervening storm, or divine wind, that brought victory.

Their WW2 kamikaze's were perhaps the first true "suicide bombers," but at least their attacks were honorable, in time of war and against warships.

Answer 4

Actually most of the Japanese where following Shinto during the war and not Buddhism so much. Shinto was the Emperors religion and during the military period, Buddhism was downplayed as a religion. The kamikaze pilots were more worshiping the Emperor than Buddha.

Yes it was a last ditch effort to win the war. But please try to get your religions right when asking questions. Life is not so simple.

Answer 5

I only dabble in my knowledge of Japanese culture - I teach world history but am by no means a scholar of Japan - but I'd say it's more due to Shinto beliefs than Buddhist ones.

In Shinto, cleanliness is extremely important; practitioners ritually cleanse themselves so that their petitions will be heard by the spirits. One could defile oneself and one's family by acting dishonorably - that's why samurai who had failed in battle were often obligated to commit seppuku (harakiri) rather than live with their shame and bring shame upon the family.

Perhaps, then, this sentiment existed among many Japanese pilots (and Japanese military in general) during WWII. Maybe the threat of dishonoring oneself and one's family was so onerous that they would rather fly suicide missions against the Americans.

Again, I'm not an expert, but it's a thought.

Answer 6

Pretty much. It was seen as an almost spiritual sacrifice, hence the term "divine wind". Many truly felt they would bring a sense of honor and retribution to their family name as well as the war effort, and there was no expectation to come back once their aircraft left the carrier or landing strip. The planes were often obsolete, stripped down of armanents, and packed with explosives.

Answer 7

I don´t think they were buddhists, and centanly to commit suicide is not a buddhist practice.

Japanese warriors have a large tradition following the bushido. A complex honor code of behavior for the samurais and the warriors.

For them to commit suicide is to have an honored death.

The real warrior that follows the bushido, is always prepared to die. He knows that his spirit and honor remains, death is only a gate you have to pass thru.

Answer 8

The Japaneese were into Shinto, which is honor and ancestor worship. To die in combat brought honor to their ancestors. And Honor was everything to them.

Answer 9

Please do some research. Kamikaze was a Shinto practice. They were NOT Buddhist.

What is the motivation of the Christian practice of burning witches at the stake?

Answer 10

-dishearten the enemy
-take out as many of the enemy while taking out as little of yourself
-it was sort of a last ditch effort which did work for a while
-their families received certain things such as money

Answer 11

Erm, to take down the enemy with dem , when only way to do that was take demsbves down (suicide), didnt know it was such a difficualt ting to work out.