Towards the end of the Pacific War, the Japanese were increasingly anticipating an American attack into the country and a preparation was made for its defense. This was called Ketsu Go and the operation included the formation of specialized Japanese units. The move was driven by the realization that, in defending their homeland, conventional warfare was no longer an option. The recruitment of soldiers willing to die in the suicide missions was, therefore, easily carried out. The suicide attack is also an accepted method of fighting and this is largely attributed to Japan's highly militaristic society as demonstrated by the samurai system with its bushido code, which established a legacy that honors and idealizes self-sacrifice. Japan saw the efficacy of the specialized units during their deployment in the Philippines in summer-fall 1944 when special attack units executed their first missions. Japan saw that they were able to achieve results with small force and resources committed. Historians view the success of the suicide tactics as an important driver to Japanese war policies after 1943.
The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka was a purpose-built kamikaze aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service towards the end of World War II. The US gave the aircraft the Japanese nameBaka. It was a small flying bomb that was carried underneath a Mitsubishi G4M2e "Betty", Yokosuka P1YGinga "Frances" or planned Heavy Nakajima G8NRenzan "Rita" bomber to within range of its target; on release, the pilot would first glide towards the target and when close enough he would fire the Ohkas engine and dive against the ship to destroy. That final approach was almost unstoppable because the aircraft gained tremendous speed. Later versions were designed to be launched from coastal air bases and caves, and even from submarines equipped with aircraft catapults, although none were actually used this way.
Shinryu
The Mizuno Mizuno Shinryu was a proposed rocket-powered kamikaze'' aircraft designed for the Imperial Japanese Navy towards the end of World War II. It never reached production.
The Kawanishi Baika was a pulsejet-powered kamikaze aircraft under development for the Imperial Japanese Navy towards the end of World War II. The war ended before any were built. The design was greatly inspired by the manned version of the German V1 flying bomb, the Fieseler Fi 103R "Reichenberg".
The Shinyo were Japanese suicide boats developed during World War II. They were part of the wider Special Attack Units program. These fast motorboats were driven by one man, to speeds of around. The Maru-Ni was an Army version with two depth charges the operator would drop and try to escape before detonation. Around 6,200 Shinyo were produced for the Imperial Japanese Navy and 3,000 Maru-Ni'' for the Imperial Japanese Army. Around 400 were deployed to Okinawa and Formosa, and the rest were stored on the coast of Japan for the ultimate defense against the invasion of the Home islands.
The Kaiten was a torpedo modified as a suicide weapon, and used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the final stages of World War II. Early designs allowed for the pilot to escape after the final acceleration towards the target, although whether this could have been done successfully is doubtful. There is no record of any pilot attempting to escape or intending to do so, and this provision was dropped from later production kaitens. The inventor of the Kaiten, Lt. Hiroshi Kuroki was lost during one of the first training missions. When the sub was raised, a note written during his final minutes before death was found, sending his respects to his family and detailing the cause of the accident and how to repair the defect.
Kairyu
The ''Kairyu class submarine was a class of Suicide midget submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy, designed in 1943-1944, and produced from the beginning of 1945. These submarines were designed to meet the invading American Naval forces upon their anticipated approach of Tokyo. These submarines had a two-man crew and were armed with two torpedoes and an internal warhead for suicide missions. Over 760 of these submarines were planned, and by August 1945, 200 had been manufactured, most of them at the Yokosuka shipyard.
Divers
Suicide divers were a part of the Special Attack Units prepared to resist the invasion of the Home islands by Allied forces. They were armed with a mine containing of explosive, fitted to a bamboo pole. They would dive and stick the pole into the hull of an enemy ship, destroying themselves in the process. They were equipped with a diving jacket and trousers, diving shoes, and a diving helmet fixed by four bolts. They were typically weighed down with of lead, and had two bottles of compressed air at 150 bars. They were expected to be able to walk at a depth of, for about six hours. Several deaths occurred during training due to malfunctions, but this weapon is only known to have been used a few times operationally:
