Chapter 4 Chapter 2 The Japanese in the War
Every cultural tradition has its own beliefs about war, some of which are common to all countries in Western Europe, although each has its own characteristics.For example, the mobilization method of calling for all-out war, how to strengthen confidence in partial failure, a certain stable ratio of those who died in battle and those who surrendered, certain rules of action for prisoners of war, and so on.These are all to be expected in the wars of Western European countries, because these countries belong to a large cultural tradition, including wars.
All the differences in the customs of war between the Japanese and the Occidental are data for understanding their outlook on life and their conception of the full responsibility of man.Our purpose is to conduct a systematic study of Japanese culture and behavior, and we don't care about the military importance of those things that do not conform to our creed.Each of their actions can be important, because they raise many questions about the Japanese character for us to answer.
The premises on which Japan justifies its war are diametrically opposed to those of the United States.Japan's view of measuring the international situation is also different from ours.The United States attributed the cause of the war to the aggression of the Axis powers.Japan, Italy, and Germany illegally violated international peace by conquest.The territories occupied by the Axis Powers, whether Manchukuo, Ethiopia, or Poland, proved that they pursued a criminal policy of oppressing small and weak peoples.They trampled on the international norm of "live and let live" or at least "open doors" to free enterprise.Japan has a different view on the reasons for the war.They believe that as long as nations have absolute sovereignty, there will be no end to anarchy in the world.Japan must fight to establish hierarchical order.Of course, the leader of this order can only be Japan, because only Japan is the only country that has sincerely established a top-down hierarchy and understands the necessity of "each in his own right".Japan achieved unity and peace in the country, quelled rebellions, and built roads, electricity, and steel industries.According to official figures, 99.5 percent of Japanese teenagers are educated in public schools.Therefore, it should help the backward fraternal state - China. The countries of "Great East Asia" are of the same race, and Japan should first expel the United States, followed by Britain, and Russia from this region of the world, so that they can "get their own place."All countries should determine their position in the international hierarchy in order to form a unified world.In the next chapter, we explore the implications of this highly regarded hierarchy in Japanese culture.This is the fantasy created by the Japanese nation that best suits its taste.But the greatest misfortune for Japan is that the countries it occupied did not see this ideal in the same light.Still, even after its defeat, Japan did not yet consider the ideal of a "Greater East Asia" to be morally ostracized.Moreover, even the most belligerent among the Japanese prisoners of war seldom blamed Japan's aims for the mainland and the Southwest Pacific.For a long time to come, Japan will certainly maintain some of its inherent attitudes, the most important of which is the belief and trust in the hierarchy.This is incompatible with our equality-loving Americans.However, we must understand what hierarchy means to Japan and what benefits it has.
For the hope of victory, Japan rests on a basis different from the prevailing view in the United States.It clamored that Japan would surely win, and that spirit would triumph over matter.They said: The United States is a big country, and its military strength is indeed superior, but what is this? !These are known for a long time, and they are not taken seriously at all.The Japanese read in one of their major newspapers, the Mainichi Shimbun, the following passage: "We would not go to war if we were afraid of numbers. The enemy's rich resources were not created by this war."
It was when Japan won the war that Japanese politicians, base camps, and soldiers all repeatedly emphasized: "This war is not a contest of armaments, but a war between the Japanese's spiritual trust and the American's material trust." When winning battles, they still repeatedly said: "In this contest, material power is doomed to lose." This creed undoubtedly became a convenient evasion when Saipan and Iwo Jima were defeated. This is not a evasion prepared specifically for failure.It served as a marching clarion call during the months of Japanese victory boasting, and it was a popular rallying cry long before the attack on Pearl Harbor.In the 1930s, General Araki, a former Minister of War and a fanatical militarist, wrote in a propaganda pamphlet called "Letter to the Japanese Nationals" that Japan's "true mission" is to "promote the emperor's way in the world, and the power gap is insufficient." Worry, how are we afraid of matter!"
Of course, like many countries preparing for war, they are actually worried.Throughout the 1930s, the proportion of gross national income spent on armaments rose alarmingly.In the year of the attack on Pearl Harbor, nearly half of the gross national income was spent on armaments for the army and navy.Administrative expenditures related to civil purposes account for only 17 percent of total government expenditures.The difference between Japan and the Western countries is not that Japan is indifferent to material armaments.But the warship and the cannon are but superficial symbols of the everlasting "Japanese spirit," as the samurai's sword is the symbol of his moral character.
The United States has always pursued strength, while Japan has always attached importance to non-material resources.Japan, like the United States, has launched a production increase campaign, but the foundation of Japan's production increase campaign lies in its unique premise.The spirit, they say, is everything and is eternal.Matter is also indispensable, of course, but it is secondary and momentary.Japanese radio stations would shout: "Material resources are limited, and there is no one thing that lasts a thousand years. This is an obvious truth." This trust in the spirit was applied literally to the daily operations of war.There is a slogan in their tactical manual: "With our training against the enemy's superiority in numbers, with our flesh and blood against the enemy's steel." This is their traditional slogan, not for this war. Specially formulated, the words "must read and win" are printed in bold on the first page of their army manual.Their pilots drove small planes to attack and ram our warships in a suicide way, which is countless teaching materials for the victory of spirit over matter.They named these pilots "Kamikaze".The so-called "Kamikaze" refers to the fact that Genghis Khan's fleet was destroyed by a hurricane during the Eastern Expedition in the 13th century AD. This time, the "Kamikaze" saved Japan.
Even among the people, those in power in Japan promoted the belief that spirituality was superior to material conditions.Didn't the common people, for example, work 12 hours in factories and be exhausted by bombing all night long?They say: "The more tired the body, the more high-spirited the will and spirit" and "The more tired the more you can exercise yourself." Isn't it very cold for ordinary people in air-raid shelters in winter?The Great Nippon Sports Association ordered everyone to do cold gymnastics on the radio, saying that gymnastics can not only replace heating equipment and bedding, but also replace the food that ordinary people need to maintain normal physical strength but are scarce.They said: "Of course, it may be said that there is no gymnastics when food is scarce. This is not true. The more food is scarce, the more we must use other methods to strengthen our physical strength." That is to say , You must use extra energy-consuming methods to increase your physical strength.Americans' views on physical strength always look at whether they had eight or five hours of sleep yesterday; whether their diet was normal;The Japanese calculation method does not consider the issue of physical strength storage at all, thinking that it is materialism.
During the war, Japanese broadcasts were even more extreme, even saying that in battle, the spirit can overcome the physical reality of death.A radio station once aired the myth of a hero pilot overcoming death:
After the air battle, the Japanese planes flew back to the airport in small formations of three or four.A captain was among the first to return.After he disembarked from his plane, he stood on the ground and gazed at the sky through binoculars.When his men returned, he counted them one by one, pale but calm.Seeing the last plane returning, he wrote a report and walked to the headquarters.Arrived at the headquarters and reported to the commander.However, just after the report, he fell to the ground.The officers present hurried forward to help, he had already died.After examination, it was found that the body was cold and there was a bullet wound on the chest, which was a fatal bullet wound.A person who has just died cannot be cold.But the captain's body was as cold as ice.The captain must have died a long time ago, and it was his spirit that supported him in making this report.It is certain that the strong sense of responsibility embraced by the deceased captain created such a miracle.
Of course, in the eyes of Americans, this must be a fabricated absurd story.Educated Japanese, however, do not laugh at such broadcasts.They believe that Japanese audiences will not think this is a ridiculous story.First of all, they pointed out that the broadcast truthfully stated that the heroic deeds of the captain were "a miraculous fact".Why can't there be miracles?The soul is trainable.This captain is obviously a master of self-cultivation.Since the Japanese all know that "a calm spirit can last for a thousand years", why can't they stay for a few hours on a captain who takes "responsibility" as his central belief in his entire life?The Japanese firmly believe that through special practice, a person's spirit can be brought to the highest level.Captain learned, and received results.
As Americans, we can dismiss this series of extreme behaviors of the Japanese as an excuse for poor people, or the childish delusions of the deceived.But if we really look at it this way, it will be more difficult for us to deal with the Japanese in wartime or peacetime.Their creed is implanted and ingrained with a certain taboo, a certain exclusion, a certain discipline and training, and is by no means an isolated eccentricity.Only by understanding these can the Americans understand: when the Japanese were defeated, they admitted that "spirit alone is not enough";More importantly, we will be able to assess the meaning of their confession: that is, on the battlefield, in the factory, after competing with the spirit of the Americans, the spiritual strength of the Japanese is not enough.As they said after their defeat, they were "entirely subjective" in the war.
What the Japanese said about all sorts of things during the war (not just about hierarchy and the supremacy of spiritual strength) provides material for comparative cultural students.Their talk of safety, morale, etc. is nothing more than mental preparation.No matter what kind of catastrophe it encountered, whether it was air raids on cities, the defeat of Saipan, or the fall of the Philippines, the government’s explanation to the Japanese people was that these were expected and there was nothing to worry about.The radio hype continued, apparently in the hope that the Japanese would continue to believe that they were still in a world where "everything was expected."They thought this would calm the common people. "The U.S. occupation of Kiska puts the Japanese mainland within the U.S. bombing circle, but we have already estimated this and made the necessary preparations." "The enemy will definitely use the three-dimensional tactics of the land, sea and air forces." Launch an attack on us. We have already considered this when we plan.” Japanese prisoners of war, even those who hoped that Japan would stop this hopeless war as soon as possible, believed that bombing could not destroy Japan on the mainland People's morale, "because they have long been mentally prepared for this."When the U.S. military began bombing Japanese cities, the vice president of the Aircraft Manufacturers' Association said on the radio: "The enemy planes are finally flying over us. However, we aircraft manufacturers have always expected that such a situation will happen." is coming, and is perfectly prepared for it, so there is nothing to worry about." Everything was expected, all planned, and nothing went wrong.Only by starting from this belief can the Japanese continue to insist on their essential proposition—everything is what we actively expect, and it is by no means passive or imposed by others. "We should not think of ourselves as being passively attacked, but as actively drawing the enemy to us." "Enemy, come if you want." It has finally happened", but said: "What we have been waiting for has finally come. We welcome it." In his speech to Parliament, the Secretary of the Navy quoted the last words of Takamori Saigo, a great samurai of the 1870s, who said: "There are two opportunities One kind of luck comes by chance, and the other is created by oneself. When faced with extremely difficult times, one must create luck by oneself.” In addition, according to radio reports, when the US military broke into the center of Manila, General Yamashita (Fengwen) "Smiling slightly, I said proudly that the enemy has fallen into my arms..." "Shortly after the enemy landed at Lingayen Bay, Manila fell quickly. This was General Yamashita's ingenious plan. The development is in line with the general's deployment. General Yamashita's battle plan is continuing to be implemented." In other words, that is to say, the worse the defeat, the smoother the situation will develop.
Like the Japanese, Americans go to extremes, only to the other extreme.Americans put all their energy into the war because it was imposed on us by someone else, and we were attacked, so show the other side a little bit of a fight.No spokesman who thinks about how to stabilize the American public will say, referring to Pearl Harbor or the Bataan debacle, "Those are things we have fully factored into our plans." Instead, our officials will say "This is done by the enemy wantonly, we have to give them a little color." Americans adjust their entire lives to constantly cope with challenges and are ready to fight at any time.The Japanese, on the other hand, base their beliefs on a pre-arranged way of life, where the greatest threat is the unexpected.
Another theme often promoted by the Japanese in combat operations also shows the Japanese way of life.They often say: "How the eyes of the world are on them", so they must fully carry forward the spirit of Japan.When the U.S. troops landed on Guadalcanal, the Japanese command to their troops was that they were now under the watchful eye of "the whole world" and that they had to be Japanese men.The officers and soldiers of the Japanese navy have a commandment that when they are attacked by torpedoes and ordered to abandon the ship, they must transfer to the lifeboat with the best posture, otherwise "you will be ridiculed by the world, and the Americans will make your ugly appearance into a movie. Go to a screening in New York."It's about how they're perceived around the world.The emphasis on this spirit is also deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
Among the attitudes to the Japanese, the most striking issue is that of His Majesty the Emperor.How much control did the emperor have over his subjects?Several American authorities point out that throughout Japan's feudal period of more than 700 years, the Emperor was the titular head of state.The object of each person's devotion is their immediate lord - "Daimyo", and the military commander-in-chief above the daimyo - the general.Loyalty to the emperor was hardly a concern at all.The emperor was imprisoned in the secluded court, and his activities and ceremonies were strictly restricted by the rules and regulations established by the shogun.Even a high-ranking feudal vassal was considered a traitor if he paid homage to the emperor.For ordinary people in Japan, the Emperor hardly exists.Some American scholars insisted that Japan can only be understood from its history. Then, how could an emperor whose memory has long been blurred by the living people become the true center of support and rallying for a conservative nation like Japan?Japanese critics, they said, who repeatedly asserted the emperor's immortal right to rule over his subjects, were exaggerating, and their insistence only proved the frailty of their arguments.Therefore, I believe that there is no reason for the wartime policy of the United States to be tactful and courteous to the emperor. On the contrary, we have every reason to violently attack the evil concept of the head of state that Japan has recently fabricated.If we challenge the sanctity of the Emperor, who is at the heart of Japan's modern national Shinto, and destroy it, the entire fabric of enemy Japan will collapse.
However, many able Americans familiar with Japan, who had read reports or literature from the front or from the Japanese side, held the opposite opinion.Anyone who has lived in Japan knows very well that nothing hurts the Japanese and boosts their morale more than insulting or attacking the Emperor with words.They never believed that the Japanese would regard our attack on the Emperor as an attack on militarism.After the First World War, they saw with their own eyes that the slogan of "Democracy" was so loud and the reputation of militarism was so bad that when the soldiers went out to downtown Tokyo, they had to carefully change into civilian clothes, but even in those In the era, the reverence for the emperor was still fanatical.These people who had lived in Japan claimed that the Japanese reverence for the Emperor cannot be compared with "Heil Hitler", which is just a barometer of the rise and fall of the Nazi Party and is closely related to all the evils of Fascism of.
The testimonies of the Japanese prisoners confirmed the above point of view.Japanese prisoners were different from Western soldiers in that they were not educated about what they could and could not say after being captured. Therefore, their answers to various questions were obviously lacking in prescriptiveness.This lack of training, of course, comes from Japan's non-surrender doctrine.This situation did not change until a few months before the end of the war, but at that time it was limited to some legions and local troops.The captives' testimonies are worth noting because they represent a cross-section of Japanese military opinion.They were not some soldiers who surrendered because of demoralization, or who lost their typical representation by surrendering.Except for a very few, almost all were captured after being injured or unconscious, unable to resist.
These Japanese captives who stubbornly resisted to the end attributed their extreme militarism to the emperor, thinking that they were "following the holy will", to reassure "His Majesty", "dedicate their lives to the emperor", "the emperor guided the people to participate in the war, Obedience is my calling." Yet those who opposed the war and Japan's plans for future aggression also ascribed their pacifism to the emperor.To all, the Emperor is everything.War wearers called the emperor "Your Majesty who loves peace", and they emphasized that the emperor "has always been a liberal and opposed war" and "was deceived by Tojo". "During the Manchurian Incident, His Majesty expressed his opposition to the military." "The war was waged without the Emperor's knowledge or permission. The Emperor did not like war and would not allow his people to be involved in it. The Emperor did not know how his soldiers were being mistreated." These testimonies are completely different from those of German prisoners of war .German prisoners of war, no matter how dissatisfied they were with the betrayal of Hitler by Hitler's generals or the Supreme Command, they still believed that the responsibility for war and preparations must be borne by the highest war messenger-Hitler.However, the Japanese prisoners of war made it clear that loyalty to the imperial family and a policy of militarism and aggressive wars are two different things.
For them, the Emperor and Japan are inseparable. "Japan would not be Japan without an emperor," and "the emperor of Japan is the symbol of the Japanese people, the center of national religious life, and the object of super-religious belief." Even if Japan is defeated, the emperor cannot be condemned for defeat. "The common people will not think that the emperor should be responsible for the war." "If the war is defeated, the cabinet and military leaders should also be responsible. The emperor is not responsible." "Even if Japan is defeated, all Japanese will continue to respect the emperor. "
These unanimous arguments that the emperor is above all criticism are simply deceitful to Americans who are accustomed to thinking that no one is immune to suspicion and criticism.However, until the defeat, these undoubtedly remained the Japanese public opinion.Those most experienced in interrogating prisoners of war believed that it was unnecessary to write "refuse to slander the Emperor" in every interrogation note.Because no POW wanted to slander the Emperor, not even those who cooperated with the Allies and broadcast for us to the Japanese.Of the many interrogation statements collected from prisoners of war, only three were euphemistically opposed to the emperor, and only one of them actually said: "It would be a mistake to keep the emperor in place." Another said that the emperor "is a weak-willed man." Or, it is just a puppet."The third was nothing more than speculation that the Emperor might abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince; that if Japan abolished the monarchy, young women might be able to hope for the freedoms they had long admired for American women.
Therefore, the generals of the Japanese military department took advantage of the unanimous reverence of all Japanese. They distributed the cigarettes "gifted by the emperor" to their subordinates;When "the army is bombed day and night", he and his subordinates recite the "imperial decree" issued by the emperor himself to the army in the "Rescript to the Soldiers" in the morning and evening, and "the sound of the chanting echoes in the forest".The militarists tried to exploit people's loyalty to the emperor.They called on their officers and soldiers to "obey the imperial edict with sincerity", "freedom from sacred concerns", "repay His Majesty's kindness with reverence" and "dedicate oneself to the emperor!" However, this kind of obedience to the emperor's will is another A double-edged sword.As many Japanese prisoners of war said, the Japanese "will not hesitate to go into battle as long as the emperor gives the order, even if there is only one bamboo spear. Similarly, as long as the emperor gives the order, they will stop fighting immediately." "If the emperor gives the order , Japan will lay down its arms the next day.” “Even the toughest and belligerent Manchurian Kwantung Army will lay down its arms.” “Only the emperor’s decree can make the Japanese people admit defeat and are willing to live to rebuild their homeland. "
There is a stark contrast between the unconditional and infinite loyalty to the emperor and the criticism of all people and groups other than the emperor.In Japanese newspapers and magazines or in the confessions of prisoners of war, there are many criticisms of government and military leaders.Prisoners cursed at their front-line commanders, especially those who could not share their destiny with their men, and doubly hated those who fled by air, leaving their soldiers to fight to the end.They often praised some officers and severely condemned others, and there was no sign of lack of distinction between good and evil in Japanese things.Even newspapers and magazines in Japan are blaming the "government," calling for stronger leadership and greater concerted efforts, and accusing the government of being unsatisfactory.They even slammed the government for restricting free speech. In July 1944, a Tokyo newspaper published a record of a discussion with journalists, former members of the Diet, and leaders of the Japanese totalitarian political party, Daisei Tsubasankai, which is the best example.One of the speakers said: "I think there are many ways to inspire the hearts of the Japanese people, but the most important one is freedom of speech. In recent years, Japanese people have been afraid to speak out what they want to say. They are afraid of speaking out." They will be blamed after doing something. They are full of suspicion, just coping with it on the surface, and become cowardly. In this way, it is absolutely impossible to talk about exerting the power of all the people." Another speaker expressed this even more: "I Almost every night, I talk to the voters in my constituency late at night, asking for their opinions on various things. But they refuse to speak. Freedom of speech is completely denied. This is really not a good way to motivate people. In Under the so-called special wartime criminal law and the maintenance of law and order, the people are deeply restricted and become as timid as a rat, just like the common people in the feudal era. Therefore, the combat power that can be exerted is still not exerted.”
Thus, even in wartime, the Japanese were critical of the government, of the headquarters, and of their immediate superiors.They did not unconditionally recognize the superiority of hierarchy.However, only the Emperor was immune to criticism.The supremacy of the emperor was only established in modern times. Why is he so respected?What quirk of Japanese character would have given the Emperor such sanctity?As long as the emperor gave an order, the Japanese would "wield the bamboo spears" and fight to the death.Similarly, as long as there is an order, the Japanese will honestly admit defeat and accept occupation.Are these words of Japanese prisoners of war true?Could it be nonsense that deliberately deceives us?Or is it true?
These important questions about Japanese combat operations, from anti-materialist prejudices to attitudes towards the Emperor, concern not only the front line but also Japan's home.There are other attitudes that are more related to the Japanese army.One of them is the attitude towards the depletion of Japanese combat power.When the United States awarded the Navy Medal to General George Ace McCann, the commander of the Taiwan Strait Mobile Force, Japanese radio stations expressed great surprise, and their attitude was completely opposite to that of the Americans.The content of the broadcast is as follows:
The official reason for Commander John Ace McCann's honor was not that he repelled the Japanese.We don't understand why they didn't say that, since Nimitz's communiqués had declared that he had repelled the Japanese. (omitted in the middle) McCann received the honor because he successfully rescued two damaged US warships and escorted them safely to the base.The significance of this little report is that it is fact, not fiction. (omitted in the middle) We do not doubt that General McCann did save the two warships.All we want you to know is this curious fact: In the United States, you are honored for saving two warships.
Americans are deeply moved by any rescue effort, any help given to those in need.An act of bravery is all the more heroic if it saves the victim.The bravery of the Japanese precludes such rescues.Even our B29 bombers and fighter jets are equipped with life-saving appliances, and the Japanese also denounced them as "cowardly".Their newspapers, their radios, repeated the subject, that only risking death is the noblest thing, and prudence is worthless.This attitude was also evident in the treatment of the wounded and malarial patients.These soldiers are trash in their eyes.Medical services are very inadequate, not even sufficient to maintain normal combat effectiveness.Over time, supply difficulties made it even more difficult to maintain the already scarce medical facilities.But that's not all.The Japanese contempt for materialism plays a major role here.Japanese soldiers were taught that death itself was a spiritual victory.And our care for the sick is like the safety equipment on a bomber.Instead, it became an interference with heroism.First of all, in daily life, the Japanese are not as accustomed to patronizing physicians and physicians as Americans are.In the United States, compassion for the wounded and sick far outweighs concern for other welfare facilities. This point is often talked about even by Europeans who visit the United States in peacetime.These are indeed unfamiliar in Japan.All in all, during the war, the Japanese army did not have an ambulance squad that was trained to carry the wounded in the fire for rescue, nor did it have systematic medical facilities, such as frontline ambulance stations, rear field hospitals, and rehabilitation hospitals far away from the frontline.The focus on medical supplies is even more lamentable.In some emergencies, the sick and wounded were simply killed.Especially in New Guinea and the Philippines, where the Japanese often had to evacuate from places where there were hospitals, they had no habit of moving the wounded and sick in advance when conditions allowed.It is only when the troops actually carry out the so-called "planned retreat", or when the enemy has already appeared in front of them, that they think of taking some measures.At that time, the military doctor in charge often shot all the wounded and sick before leaving, or the wounded and sick committed suicide with hand grenades.
Since this attitude towards the wounded and sick is the basic principle for the Japanese to treat their compatriots, it also plays an equally important role in the treatment of American prisoners of war.By our standards, the Japanese were guilty of cruelty not only to prisoners of war, but also to their own compatriots.Harald W. Glattly, a former Philippine military colonel, said that during his three-year incarceration as a prisoner of war in Taiwan, “American prisoners of war received more medical care than Japanese soldiers. Allied forces in the camps Military doctors could take care of Allied prisoners, but the Japanese had none. For a while, the only medical staff the Japanese had to treat their own people was a corporal, who later became a sergeant.” The colonel could only Saw a Japanese military doctor once or twice.
The most extreme manifestation of Japan's theory of attrition is their non-surrender doctrine.Any army in the West surrenders to the enemy when it has tried its best and is outnumbered and hopeless.They still consider themselves honorable soldiers and, under international agreement, will notify their home countries so their families know they are alive.They were not disgraced by it, either as a soldier or a civilian, or in his own family.However, the Japanese are different about this.Honor is fighting to the death.In desperate situations, Japanese soldiers should commit suicide with the last grenade, or charge into enemy lines with their bare hands in a mass suicide attack, but never surrender.If he loses consciousness after being injured and becomes a prisoner, he will feel that "he will never be able to lift his head again after returning to his country."He has lost his reputation and is "dead" to his former life.
Of course, the Japanese army had orders for the above, but apparently no special formal education was needed at the front.The Japanese army faithfully practiced this military discipline, so that in the Battle of Northern Burma, the ratio of prisoners to war dead was 142 to 17,166, that is, 1 to 120.Moreover, all but a few of the 142 captives were wounded or unconscious when they were captured.Even fewer came to "surrender" alone or in groups of two or three.In the armies of Western countries, if the casualties reach a quarter or a third of the entire army, it is rare for the army not to stop resisting.Surrenders outnumbered dead about four to one.In Hollandia, the Japanese army surrendered on a large scale for the first time, with a ratio of 1:5, which is a huge improvement from the 1:120 in Northern Burma.
Therefore, for the Japanese, the surrender of those Americans who became prisoners of war is shameful enough.Even if there is no injury, malaria, dysentery, etc., it is already a "waste" and excluded from the category of "good people".Many Americans have talked about how dangerous American laughter must have been in the prison camps, and how it irritated the Japanese guards.In the eyes of the Japanese, being a prisoner of war is already a great shame, but the Americans don't understand it. For them, it is simply unbearable.Among the orders that American prisoners of war had to obey were many that Japanese officers demanded from the camp guards.It has become commonplace for Japanese soldiers to march quickly or transfer in transport ships packed like sardine cans.Some Americans also said that the Japanese Sentinels had repeatedly and strictly required them to conceal their violations, and that the greatest crime was public disobedience.In the prison camps, when prisoners of war go out to build roads or work in factories during the day, it is forbidden to bring food back from outside, but this regulation is often a dead letter.Because just wrap the fruits and vegetables.But, if caught, it was rampant crime, and it meant Americans flouted the authority of the Sentinels.Anyone who openly challenged authority, even if it was a "back talk", would be severely punished.Even in daily life, the Japanese are strictly forbidden to talk back, and in the army, talking back must be severely punished.There was indeed a lot of brutality and abuse in prison camps.Our distinction between behavior that is the result of cultural habit and atrocity is not condoning atrocity.
Especially in the early days of the war, Japanese soldiers were convinced that the enemy would torture and kill all prisoners of war, so they were even more ashamed to surrender.There is a rumor widely circulated throughout Japan that American tanks ran over prisoners on Guadalcanal to death.Some Japanese soldiers intended to surrender, but our army was suspicious and killed them out of prudence, and this suspicion was often not unreasonable.A Japanese soldier who had no choice but to die often took pride in dying with the enemy, often even after being captured.Just like a Japanese prisoner of war said: "Since I have made up my mind to dedicate myself to the altar of victory, it would be a shame and a great shame if I didn't die heroically." This possibility made our army more vigilant, which also reduced the number of Japanese soldiers who surrendered .
Surrender is shameful, and this has been deeply seared into the minds of the Japanese.这与我们的战争惯例根本不同，而他们则视为理所当然。我们的行为在他们眼里也同样不可理解。有些美国战俘要求把自己的姓名通知本国政府以便家属知道自己还活着，他们大吃一惊，并非常蔑视。巴丹半岛的美军会向他们投降，至少日本一般士兵是想不到的，他们以为美军会像日军一样奋战到底。他们实在无法理解，美国人为什么会丝毫不以被俘为耻。
西方士兵和日本士兵之间一种最戏剧性的差别，莫过于日军被俘后竟与盟军合作。他们头脑中根本没有适应这种新环境的准则。他们丧失了名誉，也就丧失了作为日本人的生命。直到战争快要结束的前几个月，才有极少数人要求回国，不论战争结局如何。有些人要求处决自己，说：“如果你们的习惯不允许这么做，那么我就做一个模范战俘。”他们比模范战俘还要好。有些老兵和多年的极端国家主义者给我们指出弹药库的位置，仔细说明日军兵力的配置，为我军写宣传品，与我军飞行员同乘轰炸机指点军事目标。好像他们在生命中翻开了新的一页，其内容与旧的一页完全相反，但他们却表现出同样的忠诚。
当然，并不是所有战俘都是这样。有少数人顽梗不化。而且，无论如何，必须先提示一些有利条件，才可能有上述行为。有些美军指挥官很警惕，不敢接受日本人表面上的协助，以至有些战俘营根本未打算利用日军战俘可能提供的服务。但在接受日军战俘合作的战俘营中，原先的怀疑则必须消除而日益代之以对日军战俘的信赖。
美国人并没有预料到战俘们会做出如此180度的大转变，这与我们的信条是格格不入的。但日本人的行为则好像是：择定一条道路便全力以赴，如果失败，就很自然地选择另一条道路。他们这种行为方式，我们在战后能否加以考虑利用？或者这只是个别士兵当了俘虏后的特殊行为？恰如日本人在战争期间的其他行为的特殊性强迫我们思考一样，日本人这种行为方式向我们提出了许多问题，这些问题关系到他们的整个生活方式（他们被这种生活方式所制约）、各种制度的作用方式，以及他们所学到的思维和行动的习惯等等。
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Notes: