Rarely did the japanese run or retreat, remaining to die where they fought. British general william slimm concurs: 'I know of no army that could have equalled them' There are many stories of soldiers taking grenades, sometimes in pairs,. They will embrace their comrade and blow up a grenade between them. The troops are committing suicide left and right. It's one of the worst retreats i've ever read about. And when it's over, the Japs literally are starving to death.
When do spirit, tenacity, resilience and bravery cross into madness? When cities are incinerated? When suicide attacks become the norm? When atomic weapons are used? Japan's leaders test the limits of national endurance in the war's last year.