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jkfugitt's review against another edition
4.0
I remember reading this when I was in school and it really connected me to Japan, and helped me understand, emotionally, where the people of Japan were during WW2. A good read.
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
4.0
I was meant to read this book back in the beginning of 2009 as part of my history course, but being the slacker uni student I was at the time, I never got around to it. Of course, having finally finished reading it now, I honestly don't think I could have, with all the other units I was doing at the time. This is a dense book to read, and it really requires some good time set aside to really take in all of what's being said.
I liked each of the personal stories that were being told, and how the way effected each person, and is still effecting each person. They all had a story to tell, and Cook allowed it to be told. I also liked how the book was laid out- it was a progression, from Manchuria to the lasting effects.
This novel is very densely packed, though, and will take some time to read. If Japan or WWII isn't your thing, then obviously you won't enjoy it very much. But if you're looking for the human side of war, then you ought to check it out.
I liked each of the personal stories that were being told, and how the way effected each person, and is still effecting each person. They all had a story to tell, and Cook allowed it to be told. I also liked how the book was laid out- it was a progression, from Manchuria to the lasting effects.
This novel is very densely packed, though, and will take some time to read. If Japan or WWII isn't your thing, then obviously you won't enjoy it very much. But if you're looking for the human side of war, then you ought to check it out.
fractaltexan's review against another edition
4.0
An overview of World War II from the perspective of Japanese who lived through the war. With topics from the rise of nationalism, Unit 736, and the firebombing of Tokyo covered, it was informative.
fourtriplezed's review against another edition
5.0
For those that like oral history this is essential. Well presented in chronological order with everyone from the school children, the house wife, the front-line soldier and even Kamikaze failures, all are represented. For a peoples who are generally reticent to speak this is a must for those that have a thirst for Japanese wartime knowledge.
inthelunaseas's review against another edition
4.0
I was meant to read this book back in the beginning of 2009 as part of my history course, but being the slacker uni student I was at the time, I never got around to it. Of course, having finally finished reading it now, I honestly don't think I could have, with all the other units I was doing at the time. This is a dense book to read, and it really requires some good time set aside to really take in all of what's being said.
I liked each of the personal stories that were being told, and how the way effected each person, and is still effecting each person. They all had a story to tell, and Cook allowed it to be told. I also liked how the book was laid out- it was a progression, from Manchuria to the lasting effects.
This novel is very densely packed, though, and will take some time to read. If Japan or WWII isn't your thing, then obviously you won't enjoy it very much. But if you're looking for the human side of war, then you ought to check it out.
I liked each of the personal stories that were being told, and how the way effected each person, and is still effecting each person. They all had a story to tell, and Cook allowed it to be told. I also liked how the book was laid out- it was a progression, from Manchuria to the lasting effects.
This novel is very densely packed, though, and will take some time to read. If Japan or WWII isn't your thing, then obviously you won't enjoy it very much. But if you're looking for the human side of war, then you ought to check it out.
elmay's review against another edition
5.0
Lots of different perspectives on the war from shame to "we could have won and should have kept fighting". Very interesting read.
the_dave_harmon's review against another edition
5.0
wow, a book like this will teach you so much more than just studying the high level military history of this and that battle. Sure the actual military history is interesting and worth knowing, but actually hearing what specific individuals went through is much more useful to a person. Especially a person living in a democratic state experiencing a resurgence of fascism, nationalism, and exceptionalism.
this book includes accounts from all variety of individuals. soldiers, officers, war criminals, resisters, children, shop owners, Hiroshima survivors, Tokyo firebombing survivors, kaiten (a kamikaze torpedo) pilots, - the only group not represented is of course those who didnt survive.
some quotes:
"Before the war, ordinary Japanese citizens were taught from school books compiled by the state, and were made to believe that Japan was a superior nation whose mission was to lead the world. This was particularly true of national-history and ethics textbooks, and the citizenry as a whole accepted these things as the truth."
"The year of the defeat, 1945, I was a sixth-grader. We no longer had many classes at school. The main thing we did was dig an antitank ditch in the corner of the schoolyard."
"if you were left behind, that was the end. A man who had the strength left to pull the pin could always blow himself up, so everyone tried to keep on hand grenade until the last moment. Even those who tossed away their rifles never threw away their last grenade."
"in China, soldiers were forced to practice on prisoners, slashing and stabbing, as soon as they arrived for training. "stab him!" they'd order, indicating an unresisting prisoner. I didnt move. I just stood there. The platoon leader became enraged, but i just looked away, ignoring the order. I was beaten. I was the only one who didnt do it. The platoon leader showed them how, with vigor. "This is how you stab a person!" he said. He hit the man's skull and knocked him into a pit. "now sab him!" they all rushed over and did it. They all rushed over and did it."
"Unlike Allied memories of a desperately hard-fought progress through the Pacific to ultimate victory, Japanese narratives of the Pacific War often descent precipitately from brief tales of victory and joy into a shapeless nightmare of plotless slaughter."
"We were so naïve and unrealistic. We had expected that somewhere far in the rear, we'd raise the red cross and then wrap men with bandages, rub on medicine, and give them shots as we had been trained. In a tender voice we'd tell the wounded, "dont give up please." Now, they were being carried in one after another untig the dugouts and caves were filled to overflowing, and still they came pouring in. Soon we were laying them out in empty fields, then on cultivated land. Some hemorrhaged to death and others were hit again out there by showers of bombs. So many died so quickly."
this book includes accounts from all variety of individuals. soldiers, officers, war criminals, resisters, children, shop owners, Hiroshima survivors, Tokyo firebombing survivors, kaiten (a kamikaze torpedo) pilots, - the only group not represented is of course those who didnt survive.
some quotes:
"Before the war, ordinary Japanese citizens were taught from school books compiled by the state, and were made to believe that Japan was a superior nation whose mission was to lead the world. This was particularly true of national-history and ethics textbooks, and the citizenry as a whole accepted these things as the truth."
"The year of the defeat, 1945, I was a sixth-grader. We no longer had many classes at school. The main thing we did was dig an antitank ditch in the corner of the schoolyard."
"if you were left behind, that was the end. A man who had the strength left to pull the pin could always blow himself up, so everyone tried to keep on hand grenade until the last moment. Even those who tossed away their rifles never threw away their last grenade."
"in China, soldiers were forced to practice on prisoners, slashing and stabbing, as soon as they arrived for training. "stab him!" they'd order, indicating an unresisting prisoner. I didnt move. I just stood there. The platoon leader became enraged, but i just looked away, ignoring the order. I was beaten. I was the only one who didnt do it. The platoon leader showed them how, with vigor. "This is how you stab a person!" he said. He hit the man's skull and knocked him into a pit. "now sab him!" they all rushed over and did it. They all rushed over and did it."
"Unlike Allied memories of a desperately hard-fought progress through the Pacific to ultimate victory, Japanese narratives of the Pacific War often descent precipitately from brief tales of victory and joy into a shapeless nightmare of plotless slaughter."
"We were so naïve and unrealistic. We had expected that somewhere far in the rear, we'd raise the red cross and then wrap men with bandages, rub on medicine, and give them shots as we had been trained. In a tender voice we'd tell the wounded, "dont give up please." Now, they were being carried in one after another untig the dugouts and caves were filled to overflowing, and still they came pouring in. Soon we were laying them out in empty fields, then on cultivated land. Some hemorrhaged to death and others were hit again out there by showers of bombs. So many died so quickly."
gabrielletryingtoread's review against another edition
informative
sad
5.0
This was a great read, it combines so many stories into one place of those who were part of and suffered in the pacif war from the Japanese perspective.