Father of the Kamikaze (1974)

Toei Company
Directed by Kôsaku Yamashita
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, AnimEigo)

Long but engrossing drama of the Japanese military commander who first suggested planned suicide attacks as a tactic against American sea vessels in the waning months of WWII. Vastly outnumbered, the Japanese were facing certain defeat in the Philippines, whose location was vital to the long term plans of both nations. The suicide tactics proved so effective that they were eventually incorporated into all of the Japanese Navy. However, as the Americans adjusted they were less so, and the Japanese were out of options. The second half of the film chronicles their defeat and surrender, leading to much national sorrow and ritual suicides by the hardline military who refused to accept it.