Cross-cultural communication （143）　

143) The Japanese Imperial Navy's Encounter with a Different Culture
The Kido family, or rather, my parents, both of whom have passed away, were big fans of the navy. This is because my maternal uncle graduated from the Naval Academy and died in battle as a naval officer.

The cultural education of the navy was primarily conducted at the Etajima Naval Academy for naval officer candidates. Regarding language education, the navy had been modeled after the British Navy since the Meiji era and focused almost exclusively on English. At the Army Officer Academy, English and French were taught, but English was removed from the entrance exam subjects as early as 1940, just before the Pacific War. However, at the Naval Academy, English education was continued not only in entrance exams but also within the academy itself until 1944, just before the end of the war. This was due to the policy of Inoue Seiji, who was the academy's commander at the time, who stated, “We do not need naval officers who cannot speak a single foreign language.” Additionally, after completing basic training and embarking on training voyages aboard warships, cadets reportedly practiced manners for eating Western-style meals onboard. Before relations with the United States deteriorated, there were also instances where young naval officers were sent on goodwill visits to the U.S. West Coast and Australia aboard warships as part of their training. Additionally, like Yamamoto Isoroku, many had opportunities to serve as military attaches at Japanese embassies abroad. In such situations, at the very least, understanding English was essential, and social skills, including table manners, were also necessary. It should be noted that the role of a military attache at an embassy was more than half that of a military spy, and they were not simply sightseeing abroad. Under the guise of goodwill, they observed everything about the host country, including its culture, economy, national character, and the productivity of various industries, in order to determine the best military strategy for Japan in the event of an emergency.

Even in the navy, though not as severe as in the army, there was violent “training” for lower-ranking soldiers. The Japanese navy even had special tools for this purpose. These were called “spiritual injection rods,” which were wooden clubs. When a junior officer or, especially, a new recruit made a mistake, the entire team would be lined up, and each member would be struck on the buttocks with these clubs. It was said that they couldn't sleep on their backs for several days afterward. Even without making mistakes, this punishment was often carried out at the whim of superiors. Some serious naval officers, unable to bear witness to this violent training, requested transfers from fleet duty to shore-based positions, such as instructors at the Naval Academy. Was this brutal tradition unique to the Japanese Navy? In fact, this violent training was inherited from the British Navy. In the British Navy, instead of clubs, whips were used to discipline new recruits. Fleet duty involves prolonged periods of physically and mentally grueling work in confined spaces. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were several instances of mutiny by discontented sailors on British warships. In response, a tradition emerged to prevent mutinies by instilling fear of violent punishment by superiors among enlisted men. This tradition was adopted by the Imperial Japanese Navy from the Meiji era onwards. While there is recent talk of a “second Anglo-Japanese Alliance,” it seems that the Japanese and British navies are connected in various ways.

Historically, navies around the world have had a strong aristocratic flavor, with naval officers expected to behave like gentlemen and ladies (though there are now many female officers), and remnants of this tradition still remain today. I watched the movie “Midway” released in Japan in the fall of 2020. This film depicts the Battle of Midway, which halted Japan's relentless offensive in the early stages of the Pacific War and became a turning point leading to Japan's defeat. In the film, there are several scenes set in a restaurant exclusively for U.S. Navy officers. The restaurant is as luxurious as a three-star restaurant, complete with a stage. The tables are filled with couples in formal attire. There was also a scene where a singer performed popular jazz songs from that era on the stage. In Japan, the Navy had facilities called “Suikosha,” which combined traditional Japanese restaurants and inns, located in cities with military ports across the country. These were said to be on par with the best traditional restaurants and inns. While U.S. Navy officers often visited their officers' restaurants with their spouses, Suikosha were primarily visited by male officers, who were entertained by attractive women. Well, this was likely a reflection of the different cultures of the two countries at the time.

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