The American portrayal of the kamikaze pilots is inaccurate. These Japanese men adopted aggressive modes of warfare, yet these tactics compared to those of earlier wars such as the Sino-Japanese war. The kamikazes were not created on a whim, rather the idea of dying for the emperor and country based itself on years of Japanese tradition. The government and the military officials then influenced the minds of many young Japanese men and convinced them of a glorious end and most respectful death. Even still, human fears and other natural emotions permeated their spartan camouflage. Many of these fanatics revealed feelings such as uncertainty and regret. Even some higher officials expressed sympathy for the young pilots. These young exemplified an ardent behavior which ultimately led to the deaths of many Allied soldiers. Even so, these excerpts show that the kamikaze pilots were not the "monsters" the American public has described and, therefore, deserve a newfound understanding.

This exhibit was researched and designed by Guillermo Louis Rivell.
This exhibit and museum were created during an introductory seminar on the Asia-Pacific War, taught at Wake Forest University during the spring semester 2002.The material and opinions are those of their respective authors and do not represent the views of the University or
the Department of History.