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A review by hickorynut
Ichiro by Ryan Inzana
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book explored the complicated threads that wove Japanese and American history together. The main character Ichiro is half Japanese half American, just like I am. He lost his American father while young and as a teen is now in Japan exploring his Japanese identity.
This discusses the differing sides of the war and their similarities, the atomic bombs, the fallout, and the decades of cultural and social ramifications to follow. It seeks to remove idolization of both the US and Japan as conquering empires and instead encourages us to look closer at the threads that connect all conflicts together. Ichiro is raised amongst violent American media and throughout this book he learns just how horrendous that violence actually is and how it had affected his cultures and communities. He ends up shedding his interest in the idea of war, weapons, and fighting, instead learning the true cost of violence and growing to seek peace instead.
The descent into the world of gods and spirits was chaotic and confusing, just as it was supposed to be for Ichiro. It is his discussions with the god of war that truly help give him more perspective on his own history and life. While I do think that it was a very intriguing way to quickly change Ichiro's perspective, I almost wish the magical/mystical elements had been less intense and more entwined with our real world. The time he spent with his granpa, learning first hand from him, was so valuable and I wish there had been more of their relationship and mentorship. It would also have been nice to see more of a personal relationship develop between Ichiro and the tanuki, as it mostly felt the tanuki was around to transition him through realms but otherwise was largely a silent character.
This discusses the differing sides of the war and their similarities, the atomic bombs, the fallout, and the decades of cultural and social ramifications to follow. It seeks to remove idolization of both the US and Japan as conquering empires and instead encourages us to look closer at the threads that connect all conflicts together. Ichiro is raised amongst violent American media and throughout this book he learns just how horrendous that violence actually is and how it had affected his cultures and communities. He ends up shedding his interest in the idea of war, weapons, and fighting, instead learning the true cost of violence and growing to seek peace instead.
The descent into the world of gods and spirits was chaotic and confusing, just as it was supposed to be for Ichiro. It is his discussions with the god of war that truly help give him more perspective on his own history and life. While I do think that it was a very intriguing way to quickly change Ichiro's perspective, I almost wish the magical/mystical elements had been less intense and more entwined with our real world. The time he spent with his granpa, learning first hand from him, was so valuable and I wish there had been more of their relationship and mentorship. It would also have been nice to see more of a personal relationship develop between Ichiro and the tanuki, as it mostly felt the tanuki was around to transition him through realms but otherwise was largely a silent character.