Banzai charge
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Banzai charge (or banzai attack) is a term related to the Japanese samurai spirit and ideology of not accepting the shame of defeat, gyokusai (玉砕?). Instead, it is considered honourable to do a last desperate charge at the enemy and perish together with them instead of dying in cowardice. Used during World War II by opposing U.S. ground forces, the term referred generally to the Japanese tactic of attacking with infantry over open ground against entrenched troops while using loud screams and yells to bolster courage and a psychological advantage over the enemy.
Banzai (万歳?) is literally translated as "Ten thousand years", but more accurately "Long Live", and was a Japanese battle cry during the war. They honour their emperor by shouting Tennōheika banzai ! (天皇陛下万歳！?), meaning "Long live the emperor!".
The banzai charge was used mainly by Japanese infantry, although the Kamikaze strategy used in World War II could be considered an airborne variant of the banzai charge. Early in World War II, Japanese banzai charges had proven effective as an offensive infantry tactic against poorly-trained Chinese soldiers armed mostly with bolt-action rifles. Against Allied troops armed with semi-automatic rifles and machine guns, the banzai charge proved to be a complete failure, and its use was largely discontinued, except as a final suicidal gesture by surrounded Japanese forces.
A banzai charge was used during the Cowra breakout, the largest known POW escape in history.
