Kamikaze, By James Delgado
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.No, it's not about an earlier generation of suicide bombers, but the destructive force that gave them their name. In 1281, the Mongol emperor Khubilai Khan brought together two massive fleets to attack Japan. According to legend, the joint force consisted of 4,400 ships and over 100,000 troops.
An advance party prepared the way and Japan would certainly have fallen but for a "sacred wind" or kamikaze that destroyed the Khan's fleet. Items recovered include swords, fragmentation bombs and the remains of an officer called Wang.
This investigation, by a leading marine archaeologist, reveals that the Khan's fleet may have been ripped apart by a hurricane, but the death toll was exacerbated by shoddy boat-building and possibly sabotage between the two invading fleets. "In the end, the kamikaze was a convenient fiction for both sides."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments