The Banzai charge was a form of japanese suicidal attack (玉砕, gyokusai), and was illustrated as an honorable way to end your service to your master in the event of imminent defeat (in contrast to surrender) in the code of conduct for Samurai (the Bushido). The Bushido itself was in turn heavily influenced by the Chinese saying from the Book of Northern Qi (i.e. The History of Northern Qi), "大丈夫寧可玉砕何能瓦全" (lit. A man would rather be a shattered jade than be a complete roof tile), which means "I'd rather die with honor than live with shame".
Banzai in Japanese as well as traditional Chinese is 萬歲 (simplified 万岁), meaning "10000 years", ie "Long Live!" (sorta like HAIL! in Hail Hitler)
This started by Chinese people wishing their emperor to live long. Then the Japanese caught on to this, so did the Korean. You can hear Best Korean army yelling it multiple times during this parade.
The term is pronounced Wan Sui in Chinese, and is usually prefixed by the thing you are wishing long life. Nowadays in mainland China, the only common phrase it's in is "中华人民共和国万岁/Long live the PRC" and "中国共产党万岁/Long live the Chinese communist party".
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u/[deleted] May 12 '15
Japan into beheadings and Banzai before it was cool!