Our decisions that we make are what define us as what kind of people we are. It is always important to remember that the decisions that you make in your lifetime determine the legacy that you leave behind. It is important to be proud of the choices you made in your life and if they are some choices that you made that you aren't so proud of to not dwell on them, rather focus on fixing them. Patriotism, by Yukio Mishima, is a piece of literature that exceptionally illustrates making decisions that may not be easy, but are honorable. Lieutenant Shinji Takeyama has to choose between his dearest friends and his occupation. He is told that there are soldiers rebelling in a unit close to him and he is ordered to command an attack on the rebellions. However, these men involved in this conspiracy happen to be close friends of Lieutenant Shinji Takeyama. Killing these men is against everything inside of him so he returns to his wife and informs her of the situation. He also informs her that he is going to kill himself rather than do something of that nature for that is not something he wants to be remembered for. He commits seppuku, a Japanese suicide ritual that involves slicing the stomach in half. This form of suicide solely revolves around honor. The purpose of this gory act was to voluntarily kill oneself rather than fall in the hands of their enemies. Lieutenant Shinji Takeyama was extremely honorable man knowing he could not possibly kill his friends. His decision that he made reflects his honor as a man and his respect for others. He made it clear that his legacy was more important to him than some order he had been given. Sometimes it is important to walk the road less traveled upon.
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