Japanese phrases

[spiff]

I know in what context these phrases have been used, but what does 'Tora,Tora,Tora!' and 'Banzai!' actually mean?

[Quizmonster]

'Tora' literally means 'tiger' and 'banzai' means '10,000 years' or 'forever'. The first suggests a devastating attack and the second is also a battle-cry suggesting reverence for the Emperor...a form of 'Long live...'

[football]

Tora does indeed mean tiger. It does not mean a devastating attack nor a battle-cry. It was a World War Two code word to attack Pearl harbour.

[Quizmonster]

You're absolutely right, Football, that 'Tora' was a code-word used at Pearl Harbor. (I said only that it 'suggests' a devastating attack having already explained what it means.)

However - as I understand it, anyway - it was a triumphantly yelled one used by Japanese pilots after the attack, to signify that they had been successful in their devastating and surprising...ie tiger-like...onslaught. Rather like football fans bawling "We are the champions!" after a successful match, in fact. The film entitled 'Tora! Tora! Tora!' has exclamations after each 'Tora', which certainly suggest it was a cry - as well as a code - of some sort!