"Majority of Japanese of today, not to mention any mass media, have no idea what it really means and what it entails. That is why I said in my last comment that it is nothing more than a bad joke for them to use the word. It is not something that can be logically explained neither can be comprehended intellectually. It is something that is not just in Japanese but particularly in Japanese, must be awaken to truly know it. Yamato in original meaning of ancient Hebrew is the people / servant of Yahweh. Yamato Damashi is the mind of men united with the mind of Yahweh through the Spirit of Yahweh. Possessing such mind and attitude has been the symbol of Yamato = Japanese people. I am not going into the details as to what it entails however, the characteristics of Yamato Damashi has seriously diminished among people in general as the world as we know it falls apart and crumbles before our very eyes, and the Way of Yamato no longer means anything to most of us. But, I also know that there are remnants of Yamato still in the world. We may have a hope yet." -- Posted on behalf of James [Bilingual Workforce in Japan @ LinkedIn]