Bonsai Kamikaze

A Bonsai () is a miniature tree grown for aesthetic and cultural reasons. It reflects the Japanese philosophy of harmony with nature and appreciation of the art of miniature beauty.

Kamikaze () refers to the suicide attacks carried out by Japanese pilots during World War II. The popular imagination of this extreme form of warfare is that it sprung from a cult of crazed fanaticism, but the progression to kamikaze tactics evolved gradually over Japan’s long history. This article will examine the historical context, cultural beliefs, and desperate circumstances that led to the use of kamikaze.

Toward the end of the war, when Allied forces were closing in on Japan’s mainland, military leadership began to seek out unconventional means to stop their advance. The resulting kamikaze strategy emerged out of the need to honor their country’s warrior tradition and uphold traditional moral values.

A key tenet of traditional Japanese culture was the concept of the “Eien no Zero” or “Eternal Zero”, the idea that a man should never back down in the face of danger, even to his own death. The Japanese military hoped that kamikaze attacks would instill this spirit of determination and loyalty to the empire in its conscript army, which had been rapidly constructed as Japan faced increasing foreign encroachment during the Meiji Restoration and transformation from an ancient Samurai-dominated Shogunate into a modern constitutional monarchy.

Kamikaze pilots would yell the Japanese battle cry of “Banzai!” while they drank their ritual saki and viewed a picture of the Emperor before their missions. This phrase is often misunderstood and confused with the Japanese greeting “Bunjin!”, which actually means a wish for long life.