Yamato Spirit

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Yamato Damashī (大和魂, yamato damashii^?) is an expression translated as "Yamato spirit", "Japanese spirit" or the "Soul of Old Japan". The phrase has no precise meaning beyond "indomitability", but expresses nationalistic enthusiasm by referring to the continuation of an unbroken tradition of bravery and martial fervour inherited from the mythical founder of the Yamato, Jimmu Tenno. Occasionally it is seen in the form Yamato Kokoro, which means "Japanese heart".

The word Yamato 大和 refers to the Yamato, or the ancient Japanese culture that existed before contact with China. Damashī is the rendaku form of 魂 (sometimes transliterated tamashī) which means "soul" or "spirit". It is often explained, in modern terms, as related to bushido (although the concept of bushido is of later date).

The idea was originally promoted c. 1000 in order to allay anxiety about Chinese influence, typically in the antithesis "Chinese learning — Japanese spirit". Scholars associated with Shinto (e.g. Matsuoka Yūen) elaborated the concept in various directions.

It was popularised after the Sino-Japanese War, and used as a battle cry during World War II, signifying more or less "To the Death!" Leaders referred constantly to the unquenchable Japanese spirit which would vanquish the enemy despite its superior resources.

Nowadays, despite these ultra-nationalist connotations, it is looked on as a fairly anodyne phrase, occasionally appearing on the sports page of newspapers.

[edit] References

Carr, Michael. Yamato-Damashii "Japanese Spirit" Definitions. International Journal of Lexicography, 7(4):279-306 (1994). doi:10.1093/ijl/7.4.279
Sakurai Tadayoshi. Human Bullets: A Soldier's Story of the Russo-Japanese War. Introduced by Roger J. Spiller. Bison Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1999. ISBN 0-8032-9266-X

[edit] Trivia

It is the nickname of Enson Inoue.
There is a vodcast of the same name that takes place in Japan and features two foreigners asking Japanese people silly questions. [1]