Why Did Japan Use Suicide Tactics.

I'm a little curious as to why, I understand they were a radical country, and the word of the emperor was divine, but why?

They returned to the old samurai code of honour. This was to stop troops surrendering. Pluss it was effective.

they went by the code of Bushido the way of the warrior and saw it as a great honor to die in battle

It was because of the code of Bushido that stated if you surrender to the enemy your are dishonoring your Family, your country and the emperor. It said that it would be better to kill yourself than surrender

Weren't kamikaze units established in the autumn of 1944?

I was wondering if had to do with the way of the samurai, Okay that answers why, now was it effective? or was it a waste of life?

Yes I think so they were frist really used at Leyte Gulf as a real tactic before that you did have some lone pilots before than that did do kamikaze attacks.

Well it did kill people but in the long run I would say it was a waste of life that could of been used to keep the war going.

Surrender is not an option, but suicide is...

The thing is that is not what Bushido is. The spirit warriors as the leaders of Japan were called, twisted up the Bushido code to make the soldiers think that you were supposed to go on suicidal bonzai charges for the glory of the emperor. A 16th century samurai would not go by the rules of Bushido that the Japanese spirit warriors thought up.

yes it was a waste of life and soldier that could keep the war effort going

Well, I've always felt that Japanese military culture was a little counterproductive. They are willing to die, but that alone, but no will to win. For example, I read somewhere (it was a while ago) that on Iwo Jima, a soldier suggested to his commander that they stay in their cave, a better defended position, instead of Banzai charging. His argument was that they could many more Americans, who would have to come into the cave without artillery, armor, or flame support. Apparently, he was killed for his dishonor. Their brand of honor, willingness to die, became counterproductive.

But they did stay in their caves instead of bonzai charge. Kobayashi( or however you spell it) gave direct orders NOT to bonzai charge.

The problem is, some of them did it anyway. It clearly wasn't as much as other battles, but the mere fact that even a dozen or so men decided to choose honor over orders really hindered the Japanese.

I agree. On Iwo Jima for the most part the Japanese did stay in the caves rather than Bonzai charge but yes you did have some that did.

I agree. Also Kobayashi, when he was in Washington said the last country that Japan should go to war with was America. He was actually among the few who new Japan had no chance of beating the USA and actually respected the American soldiers.

There is nothing i can say that hasn't all ready been said. Pretty much it was considered a great way of bring honor and it was effective.

I saw letters from Iwo Jima, You should watch it for a good Japanese POV on the island.

Because in their culture dieing in battle is the most honourable thing to do, and what better way for a losing side's troops to gain moral than by sending them to their death.

Well like I said they twisted it up. The samurai would rather die in battle then face capture but the spirit warriors took it to new levels by telling them that the bushido required them to kill themselves for the emperor. That was not how bushido worked.