Historian eric bergeret says the extreme veneration of death of the japanese was un and came dangerously close to becoming a cult of oblivion. In the west, death in war had value only if it had purpose. Time after time, japanese soldiers fought when circumstances for the unit involved were hopeless. The slight delay caused to the allies almost never had genuine purpose. It was an exercise rather in mutual blood letting that had no reason beyond fulfilling the requirements of soldierly honor. By breaking down the fragile restraint afforded by honorable surrender, he writes, the Japans opened the flood gates for war without mercy.