also: しんぷう · かむかぜ
divine wind; providential typhoon
Historically refers to the typhoons that destroyed Mongol invasion fleets in the 13th century, seen as a divine protection of Japan. Also used metaphorically for any miraculous wind or divine intervention.
It is said that during the Mongol invasions, a divine wind blew and saved Japan.
彼はその幸運を神風と呼んだ。
He called that stroke of luck a divine wind.
kamikaze; suicide attack unit
Only with reading かみかぜ
Refers to the WWII Japanese special attack units and their pilots. The reading is restricted to かみかぜ. In English, 'kamikaze' is widely used; in Japanese, the term carries heavy historical weight.
特攻隊は神風特別攻撃隊とも呼ばれた。
The special attack units were also called Kamikaze Special Attack Units.
神風特攻隊の歴史は、戦争の悲惨さを物語っている。
The history of the kamikaze special attack units tells of the tragedy of war.
In the final match, a stroke of divine luck struck and they pulled off a come-from-behind win.
Archaic reading; かむ is an old form of かみ (god).