Even after Japan modernized its military in 1868, officers were still expected to carry a traditional Japanese sword as a symbol of their heritage and culture. As a result, a large number of these swords were produced from the end of the Meiji era (1868–1912) up until the end of World War II in 1945. Strangely, even in World War II, the Japanese actually used these swords in battle. I can understand that in hand-to-hand combat, if guns weren’t available, but to actually go against a machine guns or other modern weapons, is insane. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened on many an occasion. 
I don’t know if the Japanese soldiers were ordered to attack with their swords, or if they just did so out of a display of honor. Nevertheless, Japanese military tradition during World War II did emphasize sword charges against modern weapons, leading to numerous instances where samurai-sword-wielding soldiers attacked Allied machine gun positions in seemingly suicidal banzai charges. Of course, these weren’t the only suicidal banzai type of attacks, as we saw at Pearl Harbor. These sword attacks were reminiscent of Japan’s bushido warrior code, which prized honor and spiritual strength over practical military tactics, trusting that pure fighting spirit could overcome technological shortcomings. That “Bushido warrior code” likely served only to get many a warrior killed over the years. To me, there is also the need for practicality and “living to fight another day” in the code of a warrior, but some of these regimes like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Japan, and Germany just didn’t feel that way. They all demanded full sacrifice no matter what the odds of victory were.
Not all troops were required to or chose to fight a machine gun with a sword, and the government often “excused” itself by saying that the swords were only supposed to be symbolic, but the troops likely knew the 
truth. Officers often carried ancestral katana passed down through generations, treating them as sacred symbols of protection in battle. Still, Allied soldiers described the chilling sight of Japanese troops charging through gunfire with swords raised, shouting battle cries, and showing no concern for their own safety. Of course, these charges were ineffective against modern weaponry, but they left a strong psychological impression on Allied forces and showcased Japan’s fusion of ancient warrior traditions with 20th-century combat. The practice persisted throughout the Pacific War, revealing how cultural values could outweigh military logic even in the face of certain defeat.
Leave a Reply