During the Asia-Pacific War the Japanese were widely regarded as the most fearsome light infantrymen in the field, highly disciplined, devoted to their duty, and ready to fight to the bitter end rather than surrender. This reputation was a product of social influence as well as army training.

By the 1930s, Japanese society was imbued with militarism. Many schools gave military instruction to young students. Local elementary schools, for example, taught boys military drills using wooden guns. "The greatest honor," they would tell the young pupils, "is to come back dead." There were also army apprentice schools, which took young people directly from school ages of 14-15. Military instruction was even offered in colleges.

Conscription made all males between the ages of 15-45 liable for military service. The usual call up age was around 19 years of age and the minimum height requirement was five feet. The average Japanese soldier stood five feet three inches tall and soldiers ranged in age from 18-40. Before 1933, only 15% of draftees received orders to report to the army. During the war in China, however, more and more soldiers were needed. By the early stage of Pacific War the ratio had reached 60% and by war's end climbed to 90%.

Conscripts were liable for service straight after call up, after passing eyesight and hearing tests. Those that failed to meet the requirments on these tests were put into a reserve category for service. Grade "C" recruits, the lowest level, were placed in the Second National Army, a Japanese equivalent to the U.S. National Guards, whose responsibility included homeland service.

Once in the army, a soldier's training emphasized obedience and loyalty over skilled weapon handling. New soldiers were often lined up for officers to slap them in the face, or punch them or beat them with belts, sometimes until blood poured down their faces. During his training any lack of discipline was punished by his superiors in the form of beatings. By the time he joined his regiment it was clear to a soldier that it was in his interest to blindly obey orders.

Once in the field, the Japanese soldier was supposed to have three meals a day, mainly of rice supplemented with fish, meat, vegetables, and fruit. He slept on a mat on the ground. Often, however, the Japanese army was faced by supply shortages, and the soldiers more often than not had to fend for themselves. Medical care was very basic, if not nonexistent, and the sick or dying were often left on their own. Malaria, dysentery, cholera and beriberi took many lives.

Given this training it is perhaps no surprise that attacks often took the form of frontal assaults with fixed bayonets. The Japanese soldier took positions by pure force rather than tactical or technical sophistication and most fought until death. With death for the emperor came everlasting glory, whereas being taken prisoner was to be less than human.

This exhibit was researched and designed by [Robert Wood Finley].