Staff, described the two ships as "symbols of naval power that provided to officers and men alike a profound sense of confidence in their navy." Yamato, and especially the story of her sinking, has appeared often in Japanese popular culture, such as the anime Space Battleship Yamato and the 2005 film Yamato. The appearances in popular culture usually portray the ship's last mission as a brave, selfless, but futile, symbolic effort by the participating Japanese sailors to defend their homeland. One of the reasons that the warship may have such significance in Japanese culture is that the word "Yamato" was often used as a poetic name for Japan. Thus, the end of the battleship Yamato could serve as a metaphor for the end of the Japanese empire. See also H-class battleship proposals (World War II German Kriegsmarine) (U. S. Navy) Yamato Museum Purpose-built ship to carry main gun turrets and barrels of the class Notes Footnotes References Further reading External links Kure Yamato Museum Battleship classes