Talk:Banzai charge

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I thought the term "Banzai charge" is a rather crude term to describe the Samurai version of "last stand". Neither does it properly reflect the noble intent or the culture background of the concept, or the poetic effect of the actual term in Japanese.

In the link to Chinese and Japanes version, the article title was "Giyoku Sai", which translates to "Shattered Jade". It is a term quoted from a Chinese Tang-Dynasty History book (I cannot find the translated name of the book). The original phrase can be roughly translated to "A noble man would rather die as shattered jade, than to live like brick as whole." Samurai used this passage as a analogy for ultimate sacrifice, to make a last stand in hopeless situation and fight to the last man. Japanese media used this term in WWII for annoucing platoons that has made a last stand and was annilated.

I think maybe a change in the title and some content of the article would make this article more reflective to the concept and its cultural roots. I believe the title "Gyokusai" would be more appropriate for the article. We can include the "Banzai Charge" as the term used by western nation (since it originated from observing the Japanese warcry during suicide charge). Personally, I won't make any immediate change to the article yet, instead I'll wait for any response/suggestions from the watchlist.

Maximilius ________________________________

[edit] NPOV?

I take issue with the statement "In hindsight, such an act of heroism is worth crediting but at the same time, it is also viewed as a terrible waste of soldiers and a highly ineffective way of manpower management during wartime." The first part especially seems based entirely in opinion. -Elmer Clark 03:00, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

The author doesn't mention a valuable point about banzai charges in that not all of them were for the same purpose. Some banzai charges were meant as acts of mass suicide. But, some were just straightforward frontal assaults that weren't meant to result in the deaths of everyone in the attacking force. However, the Allies, especially the Americans, frequently grouped all of these incidents under the heading of "banzai charges."