by Saburo Sakai
Number one Japanese ace of WW2 tells all
Reviewed by: Twelve
About Twelve
I've just had the pleasure of reading a book that has become one of my all time favorites. It's a non-fiction piece of work titled 'Samurai!', by Saburo Sakai. A friend of mine recommended it to me, and I was immediately interested when I saw that the author of the book was the best surviving Japanese pilot of World War Two.
I love history, but I grew up in America and read her history books in school. When it came to America's war with Japan during World War Two, I learned about Iwo Jima, the Zero plane, kamikazes, and of course, the atom bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, hearing these tales from the other side was something that's never happened to me before.
Saburo Sakai tells his own story. I was impressed with his tales, about how he grew up in a samurai clan that fell from grace, the details of the abusive Japanese flying schools, and the long, difficult relationship with a woman that would eventually become his wife. He tells about how the Japanese were at one time a mighty, seemingly invincible empire. He goes on to describe the many different levels of the Japanese decline, and the effect this had on the Japanese society. It seems at times, that he's writing of another world.
Of course, the most amazing parts of this book are where he describes his prowess in air combat. His descriptions of dogfights with enemy planes are a special read, especially when one considers how far combat planes have evolved since then. It is like reading from ancient times, from a fantasy even, as he goes into great detail about the various maneuvers, attacks, dodges, and difficulties he faced when flying planes that seemed so ancient. Today's planes have auto-lock ons, radar with identity features, missiles that can follow and enemy plane, and speeds that break the speed of sound. Saburo speaks of a time when pilots fought with their heads sticking out of the planes, free in the wind. When there was no way to identify your target in a wild, confusing dogfight, until you got close enough. When there were no missiles, but machine guns and cannons that had to be aimed amidst breakneck speeds and turns.
He writes of how, without sounding bitter or vengeful, the American stories of certain battles were not always accurate. He also tells how the Japanese government lied to their own people, almost up to the point when the atomic bombs came down on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These tales affected me in a deep way, but the one that had me reeling was when he describes his incredibly long flight back home, alone, after he was practically shot to pieces in his plane. And then he was sent back into the sky again, half blind!
'Samurai!' in important, especially for those who have never lived in a country that has lost such an important war. It is important to know what it feels like to have your land invaded. It is important to know the feeling of being at one time famous and legendary, and then sent to scavenging for food in the streets. This is the story of Saburo Sakai, who died of a heart attack in September 2000 at 89 years old. He writes a book that will intrigue, surprise and educate you. This book is a treasure and a must have.
Click here to buy this book, or read more about it at Amazon.com: Samurai!
Copyright © by Twelve, 2003
Reviewed by Twelve
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