Why were the Japanese So Brutal In WWII?

This video was made possible thanks to everyone on the Simple History Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/simplehistory Japan is known as the land of anime, sushi, and sumo. Today, when outsiders think of Japan the first thoughts that come to mind are probably Godzilla, impeccable politeness, and technological innovation. In the last century, however, there was a different, far darker reputation garnered by the Land of the Rising Sun. What caused this infamous reputation for cruelty? 🗓️ Topics Discussed Bushido and Militaristic Indoctrination No Retreat, No Surrender Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) Treatment of Civilians and War Crimes Check out our other Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPdc6bs3I8s6Y4QE_3g3MZw Discord server: https://discord.gg/JZsPQXHeYC Become a Simple History member: https://www.youtube.com/simplehistory/join Copyright: DO NOT translate and re-upload our content on Youtube or other social media. SIMPLE HISTORY MERCHANDISE Get the Simple History books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Turner-%60/e/B00H5TYLAE/ T-Shirts https://teespring.com/stores/simple-history-official-merch Simple history gives you the facts, simple! See the book collection here: Amazon USA http://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Turner/e/B00H5TYLAE/ Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daniel-Turner/e/B00H5TYLAE/ https://www.facebook.com/Simple-History-549437675141192/ https://twitter.com/SimpleHistoryYT Further Reading: Dear, I.C.B. and M.R.D Foot, editors. The Oxford Companion to World War II. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. Chang, Iris. The Rape of Nanking.” New York: Penguin Books, 1998. Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Nanjing Massacre." Encyclopedia Britannica, December 15, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/event/Nanjing-Massacre. Felton, Mark. “Why Were the Japanese so Cruel in World War II?” Historynet.com. November 6, 2017. https://www.historynet.com/a-culture-of-cruelty/ “Japan, POWs and the Geneva Convention.” PBS.org. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/bataan-japan-pows-and-geneva-conventions/#:~:text=In%201929%20the%20Geneva%20conventions,laws%20and%20customs%20of%20war. “Banzai Attack: Saipan.” National World War II Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/banzai-attack-saipan Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "kamikaze." Encyclopedia Britannica, November 22, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/kamikaze. “Operation Downfall would have been the most costly Military Effort in US History.” WarfareHistoryNetwork.com. May 2004. https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/operation-downfall-would-have-been-the-most-costly-military-effort-in-u-s-history/ Pletcher, K.. "Bushidō." Encyclopedia Britannica, November 12, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bushido. Stockton, Richard. “Inside Unit 731, Japan’s Disturbing Human Experiments Program During World War II.” AllThingsInteresting.com. May 24, 2023. https://allthatsinteresting.com/unit-731 Credit: Simple History Creator: Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London) Video Directors: Lav Velimirovic, Ognjen Jovic Script: Robert de Graaf Script Review: Peter Turner Narrator: Chris Kane (https://vocalforge.com) Artists: Fiona Phan, Selma Belegic Animators: Nancy Bhalla, Krishna, Guillermo G. Caasi. Jr, Ravina Bheda, Rommel Ponferrada Editor: Artem Dobrohodov, James Dowse Thumbnails: Fiona Phan Brand Partnerships: Barbara Abraul Senior Production Manager: Umar Ijaz Simple History Channel Manager: James Dowse