Japanese ''Banzai'' Charge

By Crusader1307

Well known throughout World War II Movies relating to The Imperial Japanese Army – the term ''Banzai'' (often misspelled), is actually not a Japanese phrase. It's meaning and usage can be traced back to the Chinese 1^st Century BC Han Dynasty. In Regional dialect, the phrase is meant to mean ''Ten Thousand Years'', or a reference to the long life of The Emperor (in that He and His Dynasty will endure for 10,000 years). The phrase was used more as a cry of exclamation by the masses and of course, Nobility loyal to The Emperor. By the 6^th Century AD, the phrase had migrated to Japan, and was used fairly the same way – for The Japanese Emperor and His Family. With the dawn of the 19^th Century, ''Banzai'' had become used as a political/patriotic term, which not only was associated with The Emperor, but with The Nation of Japan in it's entirety. Used by The Military, it was seen as more of a battle cry above all. With World War II and The Pacific Campaigns, Western (Allied Soldiers), associated the term with often suicidal charges of Imperial Japanese Infantry, who often used the phrase. Misunderstood to mean ''Charge'' (which was an actual battle command for most Countries Military), the phrase and battle formation became linked as such. In traditional Japanese War ''Culture'' – it does not.