“Bushido” & its connection to modern timesTake notes on sections with BLUE headings, follow along & discuss for everything else.
Question: What do these 3 pictures have in common?
Video clip & discussion“The Last Samurai” (50:44 – 55:20)Watch the video & be prepared to discuss
the following questions:How does the narrator describe
Japanese people?What does the word “samurai” really
mean?What were the samurai doing in the
video clip? (Hint: most of the Japanese men shown were samurai)
“One should put forth great effort in matters of learning… and read books concerning military matters.” -Kato Kiyomasa
"If a man does not investigate into the matter of Bushido daily, it will be difficult for him to die a brave and manly death. Thus, it is essential to engrave this business of the warrior into one's mind well." -Kato Kiyomasa“In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be
any different from normal. Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm.” –Miyamoto Musashi
Discussion: What Kato Kiyomasa & Miyamoto Musashi say about
samurai?
“Bushido” & the Warrior CodeBushido is
practiced by in medieval Japan.
It believed samurai should:Show honor, loyalty, & respectCommit “seppuku” to regain lost
honorRefuse to surrender
the “warrior code”samurai
Background on World War 2
Took place between ~1939 & 1945Two parts:
EuropeThe Pacific
Major countries involved in fighting:“Allies” United States, England, France, Soviet
Union, & China“Axis” Germany, Italy, & Japan
United States already helping Allies before December 7, 1941, but pulled into fighting after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Video clipsVideo: http://youtu.be/1e6h9h7ky0E
Attack on Pearl HarborVideo: http://youtu.be/0DxJD9CPsxw
Short video on Kamikaze
So who/what were the Kamikaze?
Japanese pilots in World War 2 trained to fly their planes into enemy ships
Goal: honorable death & kill enemy
KAMIKAZE
ConnectionsWhat are some connections
between “bushido” in medieval Japan and Japan in the 20th century?
Connections…Bushido
Medieval Japan:•Samurai• Feudalism (service to lords)•Seppuku
Today:•Kamikaze pilots in WW2 (death before dishonor)•Japanese swordsmanship