Banzai Charges

Banzai

is a Japanese word that means

10,000 years, forever!

Traditionally, it was a

cheer shouted in dedication

to the life of the emperor.  It was

also a part of the samurai code of 

honor that demanded a warrior die

rather than accept dishonorable

capture.  The original samurai 

were warriors in feudal Japan,

roughly like the knights of

Europe in the Middle Ages.  

Samurai practices evolved into

a code of conduct in the Japanese

military.  When it became apparent

that the Japanese were about to lose

a battle or an island, the surviving

troops would assemble and launch

a suicidal all-or-nothing attack against

the American lines.  As they charged,

the Japanese would shout, BANZAI!

Thus, the suicidal assaults became known as

"Banzai Charges."