Shig: The True Story of an American Kamikaze

Imamura provides a rich blend of vivid history and deeply personal memories. This engrossing and well-written work is filled with cultural, historical and sociological detail. Imamura's words reflect the spirit and flavor of a land full of tradition, while candid photographs provide a visual record of his life during this pivotal time in international history. The author's first-person account is a powerful and compelling addition to any historical record of this era. But more than that, it is an attempt to help people realize that what they strongly believe at one point in life, even to the extent of wanting to sacrifice their lives for the cause, may not be so believable in later life. The message he wanted to impart most strongly is that no arguments, no differences of opinion -- political, social, religious or otherwise -- are worthy of the sacrifice of human lives.