I noticed only pistols until they got to their weapons containers. I thought one officer was however, carrying a sword. I don't think I seen a Paratrooper type 99 at all. I'll have to watch it again.
I noticed the flamethrower. Not really a surprise , the employment of flamethrowers by Imperial forces in the Phillipines and China is well documented , albeit not widely recognized or remembered. .
Falling leaves for the soon to be dead. Survival rate of those airborne soldiers was probably about zero if they were deployed outside Japan.
rb43
+1
There's the cherry blossom symbolism as well. IIRC , there was a pun invented by the US " native speaking " ( as in learned from family ) 'terps . The Imperial forces used a small aircraft that was basically a manned cruise missle . The Japanese named it the Cherry Blossom , the 'terps called it the idiot or something close to that.
I might have some pictures of Imperial troops who were persuaded to surrender on Okinowa . I'll look around.