Book Description

"In the Faraway Mountains and Rivers continues the self-narrative of Japanese student-soldiers, which Midori Yamanouchi and Joseph Quinn introduced to the English speaking world in their previously published Listen to the Voices from the Sea." "The letters and journal excerpts in this volume present the poignant reflections of University of Tokyo students drafted to fight in World War II, some of them as kamikaze pilots. The brightest young men in Japanese society turned to poetry, philosophy, literature, and religion to cope with their situation. They express their love of family and friends, as well as their anguish, confusion, and sadness. The words of these students are pervaded by a sense of helplessness and fate rather than any animosity toward the United States." "Reading In the Faraway Mountains and Rivers you will hear echoes of the common experience of soldiers in all wars. You will be reminded of the courageous spirit and sense of duty that they share, but you will also be left with the indelible impression of the terrible toll that war takes on the human spirit, on every side of every conflict." "Full of sorrow and beauty, replete with the reflections of young men as they struggle with their preparation for the brutalities of war and ultimately death, In the Faraway Mountains and Rivers offers the thoughtful reader a contemplative and transforming experience."--BOOK JACKET.