The drill leaders overlooked archaic equipment because emotional fortitude, essential to the philosophy of bushidō, was paramount. Almost twenty-five years earlier, the government had proclaimed, “In future combat we shall not be able to surpass our enemy in military forces. Neither can we expect to excel the enemy in weapons and materials for arms. On any battlefield we should steel ourselves to winning glorious victory despite military forces and weapons inferior to the enemy’s. Since we must be prepared for such a situation, it is self-evident that more spiritual education is necessary.”
