Japanese Expression In Wwii Question

[Kevin D.]

Hi all,

I read the expression somewhere but cannot find it again and would like to use it as a title on a WWII Japanese figure.

I read that Japanese officers referred to the common soldier as "a cup of rice" or as " the price of a cup of rice" and now I cannot find the phrase. The pay of the common soldier was equivalent to a cup of rice. It was a way of saying that they were expendable.

Does anyone know the phrase that I am speaking of?

Thanks for reading.

Kevin D.