kamikaze

• The poem Kamikaze explores a daughter’s reflection on her connection and relationship to her father who was a Kamikaze pilot in WWII and decided not to complete his suicide mission. It follows her train of thought as she thinks about the journey her father would have made to go on the mission and she relates her father’s experience to the natural beauty of the world. It also delves into the situation which occurred when her father returned home and was shunned by his family due to the cultural expectations placed upon them in Japan.
• Kamikaze Pilots

  During WWII, Japanese kamikaze pilots flew manned suicide missions into military targets (e.g. ships), using planes filled with explosives. Soldiers and pilots were taught it was the only way to change the direction of the war (Japan losing), and they had to take part in this last resort. Very well trained pilots would volunteer to die, but towards the end of the war the military would have to recruit people and shun those who refuse

  Kamikaze pilots were named after a typhoon that wiped out enemy ships in the 13th century, which has a link to nature being the true source of power. Japanese culture was very patriotic, and the military would focus on fighting and dying for your country, with the sentiment that it was better to be killed than be named a coward
• Japanese culture during the war was very honour based, with people being taught that one person’s dishonour will stain their whole family, and emphasizing the importance of being brave and honourable comes before everything else.
• Whilst the poem was written in the 21st century, it is set against the backdrop of WWII and the extreme conflict which was taking place at the time. The war creates an ideal backdrop to explore other forms of conflict:

   

  ●       The conflict between individuals in Japan and the societal expectations placed upon them. These expectations were immensely strict as the Japanese regard honour to be incredibly important.

  ●       The conflict within families due to the pressure put on them by society and in the case of Kamikaze pilots, the military.

  ●       The conflict between nature and man
• The poem also explores the futility of avoiding a fate set out for you by an authority or government. In this case the kamikaze pilots’ fate was formed in the military when they were instructed to go on suicide missions in the name of their country.

   

  The poem has a very intimate tone as Garland works to contrast both the speaker and the daughter’s voices, which sometimes merge into one. This ensures the readership are aware that it is a very personal story and narrative being imparted in the poem.
• Title 'Kamikaze'

  • Implies a sudden violence, particularly in strategic, military operations.
  • Relates to Japanese Suicide Pilots during the war - has patriotic connotations
  • An attack where those participating are willing to take risks and are sacrificing their safety.
• • Kamikaze shows the impact that war has on those left behind. The reader is viewing conflict through the eyes of someone left behind, someone trying to understand the motivations of their father, to understand what made him go to war and what made him come back from it.
  • The poem is written from a daughter's perspective in the third person. This narration creates a sense of detachment which reflects the distance the speaker feels from her father’s life as she grew up not knowing him.
• • The shift in narration from third person to first person when the speaker discussses her father's return acts as the volta.
  • This signifies a dramatic shift from external to internal and shows the impact that war has had on her. This is a personal moment and memory, so deserves a personal and subjective perspective.
  • The final line returns to the third person: "he must ahve wondered which had been the better way to die". The detached tone from the beginning of the poem returns but this time to signify that she is detached from the culture which gave him the option of dying as a Kamikaze pilot. Alternatively, it could be a desire to detach herself from her father.
• The structure reflects the theme of conflict within the poem:

  • The poem is structured into tightly controlled stanza lengths of 6 lines, which perhaps reflects the order and obedience expected of a soldier.
  • This structure is juxtaposed and undermined by the free verse and enjambment.

  The attempts of freedom within the confines of the strict stanza structure suggests her father had his own desires, roles and individuality within the constrictions put in place by the Japanese government.
• The free verse and enjambment could also show that he is starting to doubt his obedience and realised he wants to pursue the freedom and beauty of life unrestrained. This reminds the reader, and perhaps society, that the soldiers depicted in the poem are still individuals. This structural juxtaposition also could reflect the conflict between military commitment and cultural pride, and desire for life and freedom.
• Garland selects the word "die" as the last word of the poem, which creates a sense of futility and inevitable fate: the soldier was destined to die one way or another. The reader is also forced to reflect on their own mortality and life which will end the same way as the soldiers. In a more overarching societal application, the write may be suggesting that conflict and patriotism denies humanity the enjoyment of life and nature.
• Conflict vs Identity

  Conflict between identities (such as father and soldier) is established in the first two lines of the poem. There is immediately a contrast between the title "kamikaze" and "her father",

  • "kamikaze" establishes his role as a soldier and Japanese suicide pilot. This portrayal is reinforced by choice of possessions: a flask of water and samurai sword, showing him to be practical and nationalistic.
  • The reference to "her father" humanises him and shows that he has a life outside of his mission and matters to people. The contrast between being a kamikazee and father shows the reader the conflicting roles of the man; he can either live with his family or die for his country. The sad irony that in choosing his family he is ultimately rejected by them (they "live as though he never returned")
• The patriotism of kamikaze pilots is enforced by the patriotic imagery which is littered throughout the poem. The speaker states "her father embarked at sunrise", here the reader is reminded that Japan is known as the land of the rising sun. Except instead of this being a new day full of hope he is potentially heading towards his death. Moreover, "embark" means to get on but also to begin something, the father is beginning a new chapter of his life through rejecting his role as a kamikaze pilot.
• The speaker sees patriotism within nature, such as the fish which are "like a huge flag". This simile shows that the father and his family are indoctrinated by Japanese culture and societal norms which is why he believes dying is the right thing to do. This illustrates to the reader how patriotism is so powerful it can control how a person acts and how they choose to die.
• This identity as a patriotic soldier shifts to that of a father as he appreciates the beauty of nature and the beauty of life and decides to reject death. He provided "feathery prawns" and "cloud marked mackerel", and these adjectives link grandfather's provision of food to family. Alternatively, it can be argued that the adjective "cloud-marked" and "feathery" have angelic and heavenly connotations which suggest that whilst the father has rejected death, the concept of it is now present forever in the family's life.
• The speaker's father also feels a need to provide for his family by returning to them. However, his duty according to society is to provide his family with honour not sustenance, and unfortunately this can only be achieved through death.
• The roles of a Soldier vs Father are established at the start, as the transition from soldier to father is shown. There is a danger of patriotism in a soldier and the poem shows how this leads to his death not literally but metaphorically. His death would have given him eternal glory in the eyes of society, however through choosing life his honour has metaphorically died.
• • There is a shift in narrative perspective (volta), when the narrative changes to her personal experience of war and its effects. Here, the poem is written from a first person perspective - it is personal to her and her experiences, as one of those left behind by soldiers going to war.
  • The speaker is experiencing loss when remembering her father, as though he died, which displays the far reaching effect on multiple generations. Even in the poem the speaker chooses to feature four generations to show that conflict will keep on impacting each generation by the impact it has on those before.
• "Her father embarked at sunrise with a flask of water, a samurai sword in the cockpit"


  • The verb "embarked" suggests the beginning of an important journey, though it is ironic as it leads to death. He is beginning a new chapter of his life - both choices lead to a type of death.
  • The listing of items ("flask of water, a samurai sword") shows his preparedness and symbolic connection to honor and tradition.
  • "Sunrise" could symbolize new beginnings but also reflects Japan's national symbol, reinforcing patriotic imagery. Japan is known as the land of the rising sun.
• "He must have looked far down at the little fishing boats strung out like bunting on a green-blue translucent sea"


  • The fishing boats are compared to "bunting," a symbol of celebration, which contrasts with the somber nature of his mission.
  • The vivid imagery of the "green-blue translucent sea" reflects the beauty of nature, which influences his change of heart.
  • Connotations of peace and tranquility in the colour imagery. Doesn't want to deny himself - nor those he will kill - the beauty of nature and the beauty of life. Associating nature with precious possessions
• "Figure of eight"


  • The "figure of eight" symbolizes infinity, suggesting the eternal cycle of life and nature in contrast to the transient nature of human conflicts.
  • War and honour will be forgotten - nature will remain. Nature is more powerful than mankind.
  • It could also reflect the pilot's internal struggle, caught between two paths.
• "And though he came back my mother never spoke again in his presence, nor did she meet his eyes"


  • The lack of eye contact reflects deep shame and rejection, as "eyes" are often considered the windows to the soul. She doesn't want to see the person he has become, she has become ashamed of her own husband.
  • She doesn't want to communicate with him and distances herself from him as her daughter will. Thus, the impact of conflict is ongoing and it is passed down from generation to generation.
  • The mother's silence shows the powerful impact of cultural values on relationships and family dynamics.
  • Possibly, she doesn't want to face what she is doing as she feels guilty for avoiding him. However, she has no choice because her culture demands it.
• "Till gradually we too learned to be silent, to live as though he had never returned"


  • The generational impact of cultural norms is shown as the children adopt the same behaviour. They have learnt about cultural values.
  • The pilot's existence is erased socially, reflecting the power of societal ostracism. Suggests the father physically survives but dead to the community and society he returned to. By living, he has become forgotten and ignored.
  • His story is not told by historians but by a daughter who never knew him and so the whole poem is speculative.
• "And sometimes, she said, he must have wondered which had been the better way to die"


  • The final line creates a poignant sense of futility. The pilot is metaphorically dead to his family and community, questioning if the literal death of the mission would have been easier.
  • The line critiques the destructive nature of war and societal values that prioritize honour over humanity.
  • Both options offer a kind of death and this line implies that soldeirs are controlled by indoctrination and propaganda, and used as tools of the government.
  • Written in a detached third-person viewpoint which might suggest the speaker doesn't agree with this cultural view.
• "A tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous."


  • Imbalance of power between humanity and nature. Evan a kamikaze pilot - the epitome of bravery - sense the danger of it.
  • A kamikaze pilot (symbol of military power and determination) is not the most dangerous thing in the poem, a fish is.
  • Metaphor - it is a prince, important and significant, deserving of respect and honour like a soldier.
  • First full stop used in poem signified importance.
  • Highlights how unimportant human life is when compared to nature
• 'a samurai sword' 'shaven head'


  • Swords have connotations to Japan
  • Symbolism of patriotism
  • How his suicide is a huge cultural significance
  • Soldier has shaven heads as part of ritual to demonstrate readiness
  • The pressure and expectance of military and culture
  • He is under the spell of patriotism and propaganda, he isn't making his own decision.
• "built cairns of pearl-grey pebbles"


  • Cairns are stacks of pebbles that mark graves, shows the father is starting to consider the consequences of death and reminds readers that all the beauty of nature is undermined by the role he's about to play - will lose his ability to enjoy nature.
  • Nature's beauty is precious and valuable. Life is valuable and sacred and shouldn't be ended prematurely.
• "shoals of fishes flashing silver as their bellies swivelled towards the sun"


  Sibilance implies a sense of grace and peacefulness, as well as suggesting an elegant and graceful tone, also works to increase the pace to make the poem sound emotional