Book Review Eternal zero (Japanese title is “Eeien-no Zero)

 Book Review

Eternal zero (Japanese title is “Eeien-no Zero)

English edition

 https://www.amazon.co.jp/Eternal-Zero-Naoki-Hyakuta/dp/1939130824

This novel intends to show the reality of World War Ⅱ from the viewpoint of Japanese zero-fighter pilots. This book was originally written in Japanese, and over 5.5 million copies were published, and it was also translated into English and a film.

A young adult grandson and daughter, whose grandfather died in WWⅡ in a suicide attack by a zero-fighter, are searching and interviewing the surviving pilots who knew the grandfather.

Through their interviews, the writer shows the actual shape of the war.

Discussion points are as follows.

Why war leaders who make serious mistakes were not punished in each organization?

Why did Japanese war leaders disregard human life?

Those facts are investigated mainly through the comparison of the US.

WWⅡ is the imperialistic war, but Japan has not experienced war against advanced countries since the Japan-Russia war in 1895. As a result, the army’s leaders were selected by the result of the paper test, which did not necessarily reflect the ability of performance as the armed forces.

This book is anti-war work. It shows Japanese organizational failure, and as a result, ordinary people are sacrificed by the ruling classes.

Referred article

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/09/10/books/book-reviews/eternal-zero-naoki-hyakutas-best-selling-novel-reveals-transformative-power-war/

 

 

 

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