Latest news with #Kamikaze
Telegraph
19 hours ago
- General
- Telegraph
Is it time to forgive kamikaze pilots? This documentary thinks so
The idea of Second World War kamikaze pilots as brainwashed fanatics, willingly going to their deaths, is a pervasive one. And there is an element of truth in it, because the Japanese population was certainly taught that this was the ultimate, glorious sacrifice. Teachers drummed into primary school children that these 'divine hawks' were to be revered. Yet Kamikaze: An Untold History (BBC Four), a sombre, Japanese-made film which takes a wholly compassionate view, shows the reality. Ordered to carry out suicide missions on the US fleet, or pressured to volunteer, they had little choice but to accept their task in a society where conformity was everything. Behind the last letters home, in which they told their families that they were proud to be dying for their country, lay a truth that could not be spoken. An elderly lady, remembering the older brother whose first combat mission was also his last, said: 'In the end, he gave up and accepted his fate. That's how he must have felt – that it was inescapable.' While the pilots did feel a special kind of pride, that did not mean they were without fear. They hid that fear in the moments before they went into battle. An airman tasked with escorting the squadron towards their target recalls a 'ghastly atmosphere' in the dormitory the night before a mission, 'but when dawn broke and they went to the airfield, they left that all behind and appeared happy. They went cheerfully. They didn't want others to see any self-doubt or distress.' The 90-minute documentary lays out the facts and figures – close to 4,000 pilots died on kamikaze missions, with an average age of 21, some of them the products of elite naval and military academies, others recent university graduates – and explains the strategy. Japan was losing the war but believed that inflicting as much damage as possible would constitute a late show of strength and secure them more favourable terms. An unconditional surrender would damage the Emperor's position. A pilot remembered his squadron being summoned to a briefing room and given the news. 'The commander said the war situation was so bad that we had to conduct kamikaze attacks. He told us that it was our only chance at victory. At that moment, I thought my life was over. They were asking us to sacrifice our lives.' The stories of the kamikaze pilots are told through letters, photographs and the recollections of their relatives. There are other interviews, conducted at least a decade ago, with pilots who were not selected. Some of these were passed over because they had scored highest on tests, and high command did not want to waste the lives of the brightest. Volunteers were asked to indicate in writing how deeply they wished to be a kamikaze: they could say 'desire', 'strongly desire' or 'negative'. A historian looks over these records, and sees that some wrote 'desire' in the smallest script, a desperate way to indicate their reluctance. But very few said no. A man recalled playing rock, paper, scissors with a fellow pilot for the one kamikaze flight leaving that day. He was disappointed to lose. 'Looking back, I can't believe I volunteered,' he said, 'but at the time I felt trapped. Maybe that's the psychology behind suicide. I was suffocating.' An American survivor of a kamikaze attack, who volunteered for the US Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor, is one of the few non-Japanese interviewees. He was aboard the USS Ommaney Bay when it was attacked off the coast of the Philippines in January 1945. 'I don't have no grudge against nobody. They were ordered to go,' he says of the kamikaze. I'd wager that some other US veterans would have been less forgiving, but this is a film in which all the sympathy lies in one place.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews last night's TV: Astonishing reason 4,000 Japanese kamikaze pilots were picked to die during the Second World War
Kamikaze: An Untold History (BBC4) How much do you want to die for your country? Please tick the applicable box: 'Strongly desire', 'Desire', or 'Negative', and hand your application form to the admin officer. Astonishing almost beyond belief, this was the question posed to Japanese air force pilots during World War II, as revealed in Kamikaze: An Untold History. Slightly less surprising, since armies are the same the world over, their answers were largely ignored as officials selected the fliers who would attempt to crash their planes into Allied aircraft carriers and other ships. Instead, kamikaze pilots were chosen according to their exam results. Those with the highest marks were excused suicide duties, since their intellect made them too valuable. The ones with the lowest scores were also not picked, because they had not earned the right to sacrifice themselves. But nearly 4,000 Japanese men, average age 21 and four months, did fly kamikaze missions between October 1944 and August 1945. This grimly fascinating documentary tried to explain the mentality, not only of the pilots who flew to certain death, but of the nation that encouraged them to do it. As Japanese newsreels showed the pilots sharing a solemn ceremonial drink — lemonade, since they had sworn off alcohol — and radio announcers read out the young men's wills, a cult of kamikaze gripped the country. Their self-immolation became a symbol of what was expected from every citizen, and the slogan '100 million kamikaze' was a national catchphrase. The pilots were known as 'war gods' and 'mighty eagles'. 'Your divine battle will be known for eternity,' declared the newsreader on one piece of archive footage. Workers wore white bandanas in their honour. It seems incomprehensible, until we realise that many of the young men didn't want to die at all. They simply felt they had no choice. One man who wasn't picked said he saw a comrade receive his orders to 'volunteer' with horror: 'My parents didn't send me to university to die,' the doomed man howled. Another survivor, Hijikata Toshio, bravely marked his questionnaire 'negative'. He was engaged to be married, and his ambition was to be a maths teacher, he said. 'Taking a bullet from an enemy is one thing but blowing myself up didn't seem right.' Most of the veterans, filmed over several years, were in their 90s. One, an American sailor named Seth Irving who described waves of kamikaze planes divebombing his fleet, was 103. By the end of the war, so many Japanese aircraft had been destroyed that the pilots were sent out in trainer biplanes with explosives strapped to their fuselage. Slow and cumbersome, they were easily shot down. Survival had become a matter of chance. One pilot, Arai Toshio, played rock-paper-scissors with a fellow flier, for the right to die in their last remaining plane. He lost . . . and lived to be 99.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I visited UK's biggest waterpark and there's one secret perk for young families'
A mum of two tried out the UK's biggest outdoor waterpark, and she was seriously impressed with what she found, calling it 'the perfect family day out' for her brood The summer holidays are stretching ahead of us, and for parents across the UK prospect of keeping the kids entertained whilst they are off school can sometimes be pretty daunting. Many families throughout the country are working to pretty tight budgets, so parents are often on the lookout for days out that won't break the bank. If you're looking for a day out to remember with the whole family, then one mum-of-two has recommended paying the UK's biggest waterpark a visit this summer - which promises fun for every age group. Designers create kids' dream school shoes - including wheels and secret snack spot 'I'm an Alton Towers rollercoaster expert and people always make one mistake on rides' Perched right by the stunning beach, Goodrington Sands, Splashdown Quaywest is a jewel in Devon's crown as the largest outdoor waterpark in the country. Mum of two, Chloe Sweet, posted about her family's day out to the waterpark on her TikTok account, which boasts 113,000 followers. She was seriously impressed with the range of what the waterpark offered, with something to keep children of every age entertained. "There's 18 waterslides in total," Chloe explained in her video, "If you're into that adrenaline buzz, it's got some serious fast flumes for older children and adults, you've got the slides such as the devil's drop, the screamer, Kamikaze, and much more that will test [your] nerves". However, the facilities and slides for younger children and toddlers left Chloe really impressed, with one area a major perk for young families. "They have a dedicated section called Shipwreck Island, which is amazing for toddlers and little ones. There's seven slides in this section, and it's just the right height for toddlers. "The water is all shallow, so you don't have to stress, it's like a big massive splash zone." Chloe added, "They have water sprinkling out all over and, of course, the big massive tipping bucket that soaks everyone every couple of minutes, the kids absolutely enjoyed themselves". The mum of two explained the different tickets you can get for the waterpark, which include two, three, and four-hour slots, as well as entire day passes. The waterpark warns on their website that you cannot get tickets on the door for this attraction, so anyone interested in spending a day out there has to make sure they have booked their slot ahead. Chloe added that there were good food offerings available at the waterpark, including things like burgers, but that her family opted to bring packed lunches - and there was plenty of space for them to enjoy their little picnic. There's also an ice cream stand, which families will definitely make the most of during a hot summer's day, and Chloe advised that if you are planning on booking a two or three-hour slot, you should make the most of the day out by spending time at the beach next door as well. She called Splashdown Quaywest the "perfect family day out," and people in the comments seemed keen to try it out, with many asking for further details, and one user writing: "That's awesome, looks like it's abroad." and another commenting: "Went Monday...I love it'.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
300kmph, radar-proof: Army buys BITS-Hyd students' hostel-built drones
Hyderabad: Bomb-dropping Kamikaze drones — 300kmph, radar-proof. Assembled inside a hostel room of BITS Pilani's Hyderabad campus. The Army buys in. Two 20-year-old engineering students of the institute have stunned India's defence circles by building and selling cutting-edge UAVs to Army units across Jammu, Haryana's Chandimandir, Bengal's Panagarh, and Arunachal Pradesh — all within two months of launching their start-up Apollyon Dynamics. Their mission: reduce India's dependency on imported drones. Jayant Khatri, a mechanical engineering student from Rajasthan's Ajmer, and electrical engineering student Sourya Choudhury from Kolkata built their drones with off-the-shelf parts, customised the systems for Indian terrain, and pitched them to Army officers via cold messages on LinkedIn. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad "I just started shooting cold emails to whoever I could find… Luckily, a colonel responded and called us to Chandigarh for a demo," Khatri said, speaking to TOI on Monday. What followed was a whirlwind — a live demo of bomb-dropping and racing drones, followed by more demonstrations to military regiments. Orders began flowing in. The company was born. Their standout product: a Kamikaze drone that hits speeds over 300kmph, five times faster than standard commercial UAVs, and delivers 1kg payloads with pinpoint accuracy. "Our drones are not just fast — they can't be detected on radar," said Choudhury. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Desert Order Undo The duo insists every UAV is built in-house with a focus on "ruggedness, reliability and adaptability". "Our shared love of robotics brought us together. We started with a defence-tech club on campus. Then came the orders — that's when we knew we had to go big," Choudhury said. The team now includes six second-year students and is working on next-generation VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing)) and fixed-wing platforms to boost mission flexibility. They also offer hands-on training to military personnel — even those with no prior flight experience. "It's heartening to see what they've achieved," said professor Sanket Goel of BITS Pilani. "Their start-up has already secured multiple orders from the armed forces." In "3 Idiots", Joy Lobo's passion for machines died in silence — no support, no takers. In real life, two students built war-ready drones in a hostel room. The Army called back.
West Australian
21-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
ASX rollercoaster: After a major market melt-up, a reckoning looms
The Australian share market has been on something of a tear over the past few months, up 11 per cent since the depths of Donald Trump's Kamikaze tariff attack, cresting at an all-time high Friday. It's an impressive run given the economy is barely limping along, interest rates are only ever so slightly on the way down and the global economy is on tenterhooks. Such lofty heights amid persistent uncertainty suggest this bull run has more to do with FOMO than fundamentals and vis ulnerable to any hint of bad news. How else to explain a drop of as much as 2.9 per cent for our largest bank, CBA, 3.4 per cent nearly and 2.75 for ANZ and NAB? The sell-off has been sheeted home to the Japanese election, where the ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost its majority in the upper house of parliament. It's the first time there hasn't been a governing majority since 1955. Market watchers suggest it could derail Japan's economic trajectory, given its high debt levels. That issue seems a long way from Australian banks, which derive the majority of their revenues from domestic lending. Aussie banks were up 30 per cent for the financial year ended, driven by the 46 per cent gain for Commbank. Australia's largest bank has been seen as something of a safe haven in times of uncertainty, popular with domestic and international investors alike for its strong balance sheet and stable earnings. But the company is not shooting the lights out in terms of growth, meaning investors are pushing up company valuations without worrying if it is being met by associated profits. 'CBA is the extreme version of that. On Friday, it was at record levels, and this is despite several years of falling earnings and significant uncertainty around what may happen internationally with tariffs,' said AMP chief economist Shane Oliver. It might be that the FOMO trade is going elsewhere. While banks were sold, miners were gold, with Rio Tinto up 1.5 per cent, Fortescue 1.35 per cent and South 32 up 4.33 per cent. There may also be a bet building on China. Stronger oil and metals prices in recent weeks have stirred speculation Beijing could unleash new stimulus. The iron ore price hit a four-month high thanks to a Chinese plan to build a hydroelectric dam in Tibet. But the base metal has been on the upward slope for four weeks, not due to further stimulus talks however, but a forced consolidation of the sector. In a market that is on the hunt for good news, investors seem to be ready to bid on any opportunities. 'Maybe the market's stepping that out,' Dr Oliver said, though he cautioned that recent Chinese GDP data didn't support that optimism. 'There was nothing in there suggesting China's going to jump in with a big stimulus. I'm less optimistic than the market on that one.' A higher iron ore price will certainly be welcome for miners, but a lot of the market is still relying on a bump from the Reserve Bank cutting interest rates. While that will be positive for corporates, the market seems very confident. Across the ASX200 the price earnings ratio - a metric that shows how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of a company's profit - is 23 times and well above the long term average of around 17. It is also heading higher, raising questions about whether investors are shovelling money into stocks beyond the bargain hunting in the wake of Trump's Liberation Day tariff announcement. 'Share markets aren't cheap anymore,' Dr Oliver said. 'Maybe they were back in April… but they're not cheap anymore. Valuation measures certainly suggest the market is somewhat expensive.' A similar story is playing out in the US, where the markets have hit new records. That is significantly driven by the dominant tech firms but also in the hope that two key events occur: The US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, and Trump backs down on tariffs. US markets edged higher on suggestions by one Fed member that rates should be cut, even though Fed chair Powell has indicated no change until the tariff impact can be calculated. The other big hope is the TACO trade. Investors are banking on Trump Always Chickening Out, presuming he will cave in the face of economic fallout. It's a risky strategy, given the still very punitive tariff levies spelled out in recent letters. But the key indicator of market risk, the VIX measure of market volatility, is not much higher than before Trump came to office at 16.41. In April, when tariffs were announced, it spiked above 52. 'That's another indication of the extreme optimism around the TACO trade,' Dr Oliver said. That sets up the current earnings season as a key test of investor confidence. Companies will need to show profit growth that justifies their expanded multiples or risk sharp repricing. While investment firms are banking on those earnings staying benign, early signs suggest company insiders are already wary. According to data from just 10 per cent of corporate officers are buying their own company's stock. That is well below the 10-year average in the high 20s and far off the peaks above 40 per cent recorded in recent years. It leaves investors with quite the dilemma. Sit the current enthusiasm out and miss out on the steady melt up or bank on a combination of factors all working in unison: a tariff climbdown, a Fed rate cut, a Chinese stimulus, and no other destabilising factors. It's heady stuff, and at these levels, markets can easily run out of oxygen.
