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eleven_hummingbird 's review for:
Samurai!
by Saburo Sakai, Martin Caidin, Fred Saito
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
A semi-novelized autobiography of one of Imperial Japan's top flying aces, Sakai Saburo.
As a historical piece, this text draws upon Sakai's own account, the written records of Saito Masahisa, and various interviews. Which of these sources is being drawn at any time is unclear, nor is it obvious when the editors choose to speak, though certain passages certainly show more suspect than others, largely those involving combat or romance. There are accusations and debates swirling around the memoir, mostly regarding numbers of confirmed air kills. As much of these are within Japanese academic circles, and are largely frivolous in my opinion, I cannot make greater comment.
This is not by any means a dry historical text. Sakai's story takes the reader along with him from a small village in Kyushu, to the airwar in China, over jungles, through storms and squalls, to volcanic Rabaul, to the fortress of Iwo Jima, to the bustling streets of Tokyo, and over the wide seas that separate them all.
As is often the case with aviation military history, this is a much cleaner account of the Asia-Pacific War than will be found in any worthwhile narrative from the ground. The atrocities, racism, rape, and violence of war are hardly to be found here. Sakai recalls how distant and inhuman the airwar felt, and only two instances of graphic violence appear in the text. The firebombing of Japan is described, though I suspect this was edited to be kept at a minimum.
Sakai holds that Tokkotai pilots (kamikaze) were all volunteers. The complexities of systemic social pressures, top-down indoctrination, and bottom-up patriotism are not explored. He himself attests to the brutality of his own training, but does not make meaningful criticism. Sakai comments on the wildly dishonest, Orwellian propaganda in Japan proper, and describes his disgust at the time, but again does not make any exploratory criticism.
Overall Sakai's account offers a thrilling and revealing window into the national-militarist culture of early Showa Japan, though it should not be taken as one that is entirely reliable nor by any means singularly representative.
As a historical piece, this text draws upon Sakai's own account, the written records of Saito Masahisa, and various interviews. Which of these sources is being drawn at any time is unclear, nor is it obvious when the editors choose to speak, though certain passages certainly show more suspect than others, largely those involving combat or romance. There are accusations and debates swirling around the memoir, mostly regarding numbers of confirmed air kills. As much of these are within Japanese academic circles, and are largely frivolous in my opinion, I cannot make greater comment.
This is not by any means a dry historical text. Sakai's story takes the reader along with him from a small village in Kyushu, to the airwar in China, over jungles, through storms and squalls, to volcanic Rabaul, to the fortress of Iwo Jima, to the bustling streets of Tokyo, and over the wide seas that separate them all.
As is often the case with aviation military history, this is a much cleaner account of the Asia-Pacific War than will be found in any worthwhile narrative from the ground. The atrocities, racism, rape, and violence of war are hardly to be found here. Sakai recalls how distant and inhuman the airwar felt, and only two instances of graphic violence appear in the text. The firebombing of Japan is described, though I suspect this was edited to be kept at a minimum.
Sakai holds that Tokkotai pilots (kamikaze) were all volunteers. The complexities of systemic social pressures, top-down indoctrination, and bottom-up patriotism are not explored. He himself attests to the brutality of his own training, but does not make meaningful criticism. Sakai comments on the wildly dishonest, Orwellian propaganda in Japan proper, and describes his disgust at the time, but again does not make any exploratory criticism.
Overall Sakai's account offers a thrilling and revealing window into the national-militarist culture of early Showa Japan, though it should not be taken as one that is entirely reliable nor by any means singularly representative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, War
Minor: Domestic abuse, Violence