In the midst of World War II, with Japanese victory seemingly distant and their reluctance to surrender, the Japanese resorted to a technique never before seen in warfare. Between October 1944 and August 1945, more than 3,000 Japanese Army and Navy pilots died by intentionally crashing their planes into Allied ships. These warriors are often known as kamikazes. Kamikaze is a Japanese word that translates to Divine Wind. The kamikaze warriors committed the ultimate act of sacrifice for their country and were glorified for doing so. Suicide in war and terrorism is a very lethal tactic and is becoming more and more prevalent today. Understanding the reasons that led to the birth of the kamikaze can help us understand the appeal and success of suicidal warfare. Scholars have attempted to explain the phenomenon as the result of brainwashing, extreme poverty, emotional dysfunction, or a feeling of hopelessness. This formula can also be applied to why the Japanese resorted to suicide as a military tactic. The warrior tradition of the Japanese samurai, the economic needs during the war and the sheer desperation contributed, in large part, to the birth of the kamikaze. Suicide used as an act of terrorism can be seen as early as the 1st century AD with Jewish zealots and hitmen. , the Ismaili assassins of the 12th century and the anti-colonial movements in Malabar. The use of suicide in these cases is largely seen as the result of early education, the emergence of charismatic and ambitious leaders, disputes over occupied territories, and the use of religion to manipulate followers to kill in the name of God. The Japanese were no exception to this pattern. The tradition of the Japanese samurai and the Bushido code of ethics promoted s...... middle of paper...... learn ways of prevention and protection against this increasingly lethal and widespread act of terrorism. This act does not need to be conducted by a group or in war, but can be performed by a single individual willing to sacrifice himself killing thousands in the process. Works Cited Bloom, Mia. Dying to kill: the allure of suicidal terror. New York: Columbia University Press, 2005. Chaliand, Gérard, Arnaud Blin, Edward D. Schneider, Kathryn Pulver, and Jesse Browner. The history of terrorism: from antiquity to al Qaeda. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007. Gambetta, Diego. Making sense of suicide missions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.Nitobe, InazoÌ„. Bushido, the soul of Japan. 12th ed. Tokyo: Pub Teibi. Co., 1907-1904.Worden, William L.. “Kamikaze: Banzai Air Charge.” The Saturday Evening Post, June 23, 1945.