Kamikaze (typhoon)

The kamikaze (Japanese: 神風, lit. 'divine wind') were special winds or storms believed to have saved Japan from two big attacks by Mongol fleets led by Kublai Khan in the years 1274 and 1281. These huge storms came just when the ships were close to Japan, helping to stop the invaders. Because of this, people in Japan called these powerful typhoons the "divine wind," not just because they were strong but also because they arrived exactly when needed.

At that time, many Samurai followed Zen Buddhism, and this was the first time these storms were described in such a special way. The word kamikaze has been used in Japanese poetry and writing for a very long time, even before these events, coming from an old book called the Man'yōshū. It was used like a beautiful word to talk about the Ise Grand Shrine. In Japanese, kamikaze is one way to say the word from its meaning, while another older way to say it sounds more like a word from Chinese.

History

The second fleet was very large, with more than four thousand ships and nearly 140,000 men. It was said to be the biggest naval invasion ever until the D-Day invasion of allied forces into Normandy in 1944. However, some historians today debate just how big the fleet really was.

Events

In 1274, a big group of ships from Mongolia tried to attack Japan. They landed in a place called Hakata Bay but faced strong resistance from Japanese warriors. A big storm, called a typhoon, hit their ships, causing many to sink and many soldiers to drown.

Seven years later, in 1281, the Mongols tried again with an even larger fleet. This time, the Japanese had built walls to protect themselves, so the ships could not land easily. After waiting for months, a huge typhoon destroyed most of the ships. The Japanese called this storm "kamikaze," meaning "divine wind," because it helped protect them. The Mongols never tried to attack Japan again after this.

In myth

In old Japanese stories, people believed that the god Raijin sent the storms to stop the Mongols. Some stories say it was the gods Fūjin, Ryūjin, or Hachiman who caused the powerful winds called kamikaze.

As a metaphor

The word kamikaze was later used during World War II as a way for people to support suicide attacks by Japanese pilots. The idea was that these pilots would act like the "Divine Wind" and help drive enemy ships away. Over time, this is how most people came to understand the word kamikaze in English.