are traditional subjects for daily meditation at Japan's Naval Academy.

Five Reflections

These reflections were originally devised by Vice Admiral Hajime Matsushita

Hajime Matsushita

was a Japanese naval officer and educator.-Career:A native of Fukuoka Prefecture, Matsushita graduated from the 31st class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1903. He was assigned to serve on the cruiser during the early stages of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, and was on the cruiser ...

, who was the Chief of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy

Imperial Japanese Naval Academy

The was a school established to train officers for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It originally located in Nagasaki, moved to Yokohama in 1866, and was relocated to Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1869. It moved to Etajima, Hiroshima in 1888...

. Every evening cadets are expected to meditate on these inter-related questions.

1. Hast thou not gone against sincerity
2. Hast thou not felt ashamed of thy words and deeds
3. Hast thou not lacked vigor
4. Hast thou exerted all possible efforts
5. Hast thou not become slothful

The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) encourages the use of the Gosei as a self-reflective exercise during the course of daily living.

The crux of this contemplative practice has been translated into English and has been discussed at the United States Naval Academy

United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...

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