Kamikaze

Definition

Kamikaze was a military tactic used by the Japanese during World War II where pilots would deliberately crash their planes into enemy ships in suicide attacks.

Analogy

Think of kamikaze like a desperate move in a chess game. When you're losing and have no other options, you might sacrifice your most valuable piece (the queen) to take out an opponent's piece. It's a last-ditch effort that shows how dire the situation is.

Related terms

Suicide Attacks: These are violent attacks committed by people who do not expect to survive them. They often involve explosives or other weapons.

World War II: This was a global conflict that took place from 1939-1945 between two military alliances, the Allies and the Axis powers. It was the most widespread war in history.

Imperial Japan: This refers to the period of Japanese history from 1868 to 1947 when Japan was governed by emperors who had absolute power.