In Japanese history, samurai followed a strict code called bushido — the “way of the warrior.”
Many people think this code was only about dying for honor or loyalty.
But true bushido was not about throwing away one’s life.
It was about living with strong determination to complete one’s duty.
The story of Kusunoki Masashige
Kusunoki Masashige was a famous samurai who served Emperor Go-Daigo in the 14th century.
When the emperor ordered him to go into a battle that seemed impossible to win,
Masashige knew the result — defeat and death.
Still, he decided to go.
Not because he wanted to die,
but because he had made a promise to serve his lord until the end.
He chose to act with honor and calm mind, not fear or anger.
Before leaving, he told his brother:
“Even if I die, I hope to be reborn seven times to protect my country.”
This is where the famous phrase “Shichishō hōkoku” — “To be reborn seven times to serve the nation” — comes from.
The real meaning of duty
Masashige’s story shows that bushido is not blind obedience.
It is about clarity of mind — knowing your role, your mission, and doing it completely.
Even when you cannot control the result, you can still control your resolve.
In modern life, this means doing your work, family, or mission
with the same spirit of determination —
not because someone forces you,
but because you have decided to act with honor.
Lesson for today
True strength is not found in sacrifice, but in awareness and choice.
To act with full heart, without fear, even when the result is uncertain —
that is the modern form of bushido.
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