What does ‘tora tora’ mean?

PEARL Harbor was a significant battle that took place in Hawaii during World War II.

Using code words and phrases during military strikes was a popular tactic that was utilized by the different nations involved during the second World War.

What does the phrase 'tora tora' mean?

On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on The United States.

In an unforeseen move, Japan initiated their assault on The United States through their premiere Navy base of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

During the surprise strike, the phrase 'tora tora' was used a number of times.

'Tora tora' is a code with a couple of different meanings in the Japanese language.

Who used 'tora tora' as a code?

'Tora tora' was a Japanese coded phrase that means 'tiger' and is also an abbreviation for the Japanese term for 'lightning attack.'

When the Japanese military utilized this term, it was meant to signify that the surprise attack was successfully carried out.

When they used the disguised word 'tora' it was said three times a row, 'tora tora tora.'

Throughout the devastation of Pearl Harbor, Japan heavily applied the expression to indicate that the battle was in their favor.

How was 'tora tora' used during Pearl Harbor?

Following the conclusion of World War II, the secret expression earned much notoriety.

In 1970, the film Tora! Tora! Tora! was released and gave audiences background and context to how and why the Japanese military made use of the war term.

The film chronicles the event of Pearl Harbor and what lead up to the devastating attack.

Tora! Tora! Tora! consists of storytelling from the nations involved in the surprise launch, which includes Japan and The United States.