ANALYSIS FOR KAMIKAZE

• “Her father embarked at sunrise with a flask of water, a samurai sword in the cockpit”

  • Impression of adventure and discovery and ironically hope
  • Embarked means to set off on a plane or to start a new chapter
  • Japan is coined as the land of the rising Sun, often utilised in propaganda
  • Water (symbol of life) juxtaposes the sword (symbol of death)
• “a shaven head full of powerful incantations and enough fuel for a one-way journey into history”

  • The incantations could be brainwashing to create loyalty or a prayer (perhaps for survival)
  • Enough fuel , contrasts the idea of setting out for a real adventure, he’s only given enough fuel to make it part way
  • Shows that young men are sent to die with a whole life set before them
  • Showcases the loss of identity and how suicide is subsumed in rituals. highlighted as there is a Euphemism for suicide in “one way journey”
• "flag .. eight"

  • symbol of patriotism and an obligation to die for his country
  • 8 - represents infinity highlighting that when one does one dies forever . The flag could be a signal soldiers make when they surrender - is he mentally surrendering his obligation to die ? the flag waving one way and then the other could represent a change of mind
  • The infinity symbol could foreshadow his flight path = he is turning back but it could show the repetitive cycle of doom he faces his destiny is inescapable, he is going to die in his mission or in the eyes of his family
• “ a tuna , the dark Prince, muscular and dangerous “

  • the dark Prince could allude to Hamlet with “To be or not to be” aligning with the pilots hamletian inner conflict
• “ he must have wondered which had been the better way to die “

  • A poignant way to end as he wonders if it’s better do die with honour or with shame
  • Japanese code of bushido , emphasising loyalty and sacrifice, is contrasted with the western influence of individualism , freedom and humanism
  • daughter's tone is detached and objective showing the distance between her and her father akin to the distance between her father and society
  • Or maybe it’s because she wants to present the facts without bias and sentimentality
• CONTEXT:

  • The samurai code of honour is named Bushido. If a samurai has lost their honour they are able to regain it by committing seppuku - suicide - showing the extent soldiers went to serve Japan.
  • Samurai soldiers drink Saki - before conflict - an alcoholic beverage here the soldier drinks water
  • 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