Journal 7 Skyler Siles

Part One:

The person that I found that interests me the most is Mrs. Nakumura. In the time of death and destruction she reminds me the good in people by her motherly instincts. Even if they may seem off, like being so worried that her children after the bombing would be cold, all though it was extremely hot outside that she goes back to her house and scavenges through the rubble to find the emergency suit case that she had for them to get clothing for them “and even, irrationally overcoats” (Hersey 19) that she puts on them.

Part Two:

One of the main arguments for the American decision and justification of the dropping of the bomb was that the Japanese soldiers would simply not give up or surrender. That made me wonder really why the Japanese would not give up, even in the certain face of demise. So I did some research into their culture and situation during World War 2.  The Japanese culture is a very interesting and intriguing one. One of the iconic things about japan is the warrior mentality that was developed in the samurai age. The samurai lived by a culture of total sacrifice and a state of selflessness in a code of ethics called “Bushido”. “Its basic thesis is that only a samurai prepared and willing to die at any moment can devote himself fully to his lord”. (David Powers, BBC) When trying to explain the wartime image of the no surrender this was a very appealing ideology for the Japanese solider. Another reason why the Japanese become so relentless was the fact this war was a “Kill or be killed war”. Even the Office of War information acknowledged in 1945 the unwillingness of allied troops to take prisoners in the pacific theater made it that much harder for the Japanese solider to surrender. Even though some Japanese were taken prisoners, most fought until they were killed or committed suicide. “In the last, desperate months of the war, this image was also applied to Japanese civilians. To the horror of American troops advancing on Saipan, they saw mothers clutching their babies hurling themselves over the cliffs rather than be taken prisoner.” (Powers BBC). This image of total sacrifice not only was just for the soldiers but rather ingrained into the people through their warrior culture, and this was shown indefinitely by the treatment of returning prisoners from a previous war with Russia in 1904-05. They were treated as social outcast and “The Field Service Code issued by General Tojo in 1941 put it more explicitly: “Do not live in shame as a prisoner. Die, and leave no ignominious crime behind you.””(Powers BBC).  I find this culture very interesting and I must say, I have a lot of respect for this. The selflessness of the people, the devotion of country rather than self is what made the Japanese such great warriors. The simplistic, even poetic unity of the country made them such a hard enemy to overcome. 

The Japanese flag I think is so poetic and powerful. The simplistic red circle shows unity and really shows the "empire of the sun", and no other flag in the world in my opinion is that powerful. 

Source: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/japan_no_surrender_01.shtml