ACCORDING to legend, the Kamikaze, or “divine wind”, twice saved Japan from subjugation by Mongolian invaders. But it now seems that bad boat-building came to Japan’s rescue.
A painstaking analysis of about 500 timbers raised from the remains of the massive Mongolian fleet that sank in 1281 suggests wood for the ships was recycled, and at least some of the ships were badly constructed or not designed for the high seas.
In 1274, the Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan sent 900 ships to invade Japan. Resistance by the Samurai and bad weather forced the troops to retreat, and their ships were…
