A Brief History The term "kamikaze" is most commonly associated with the suicide pilots of the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II, but its origins and implications extend both into Japan's ancient past and its cultural psyche. The term "kamikaze" translates to "divine wind" and originally referred to legendary typhoons that are said to have protected Japan from two Mongolian invasion fleets under Kublai Khan in 1274 and 1281. According to historical accounts and folklore, these s...