After Japan's defeat in World War II, soldiers presented complex mentalities and decisions. Among them, the traditional practice of seppuku suicide gradually disappeared after World War II and was replaced by a variety of other reactions. This article will explain the reasons behind this change and the real motives of the soldiers.
Historically, Japanese soldiers have used "seppuku" as a ritual for their death. This unique tradition stems from the ancient Japanese samurai ethos, who believed that life should belong to the collective, the emperor, and that if he failed to complete his mission, he should apologize. However, after World War II, the phenomenon of "seppuku" has been decreasing or even disappearing, and this phenomenon has attracted attention.
In fact, after the end of World War II, after Japanese soldiers begged the emperor to surrender, many people did not choose to commit suicide by seppuku. For the soldiers, these former soldiers who served the emperor are now facing the collapse of the country and the departure of their loved ones. Their hearts are full of contradictions and helplessness, and many choose a completely different way to solve it.
First of all, a Japanese soldier showed unusual excitement. The lives of the Japanese people were greatly affected during the war, and the already depressed economic situation was exacerbated by the war. After the end of World War II, the soldiers naturally longed for peace. For the people in this misery, not only the voice of the emperor, but also the ordinary soldiers hoped that the war would end as soon as possible. At this time, the voice of victory was undoubtedly heavenly to them. This allowed the soldiers to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude even in the context of losing the battle.
Second, others showed extreme anger and revenge. In the Japanese army, there is often a cultural concept of "subordinates are above superiors", so that these soldiers will strictly abide by the instructions of their superiors when the war situation is smooth; But when they lost the battlefield, they began to hate the top leaders who held power, and they developed a strong desire for revenge. Their anger is usually divided into two ways: one is to beat up their superiors to show their dissatisfaction, and the other is to flee the scene in the chaos. In these extreme cases, violence between soldiers in the newly occupied territories is frequent, and they take out their pent-up emotions on their superiors.
In addition, a certain percentage of soldiers chose to go incognito and escape from scratch. This behavior is not only motivated by personal safety considerations, but also by fear that the public will find out about their crimes. Some soldiers who were on the front line during the war were full of confusion and helplessness in the face of the devastated battlefield. At this time, they often seek to change their identity, leaving their homes in an attempt to avoid public accountability in order to survive.
In general, the traditional behavior of Japanese soldiers who no longer chose to commit suicide after World War II was the result of a combination of factors. In addition to the battlefield pressures they are subjected to, soldiers face complex social environments and stresses in the aftermath of the war, leading to a diversity in their decision-making and behavior.