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Eureka! TV | Kamikaze – the ’Divine Wind’

In the Middle Ages the breed of Japanese warrior known as the Samurai followed the Bushido code. Death held no fears for the Bushido warrior, who believed that if he died in battle he would be reincarnated. He was unswervingly loyal and obedient to his Emperor, whom he regarded as a God.

In the autumn of 1944, as American forces began the reconquest of the Philippine islands, they face a terrifying weapon born from the Bushido code – the Kamikaze suicide attack.

With dwindling resources at his disposal to face the American assault, Admiral Takijino Onishi could see only one way of defeating the American aircraft carriers: the ‘Divine Wind’. Volunteer Kamikaze pilots would fly into the aircraft carriers, wearing white scarves or headbands – the Samurai symbol of revenge.

Other suicide weapons included Banzai death charges, Kaiten submarines, and the Okha, or cherry blossom, piloted bomb. Where would this Japanese fanaticism end? Their battle plan was to take as many Allied casualties with them as they could in defeat. There could be no surrender. The USA found a controversial alternative to this problem: the atom bomb.