Japanese Books

A Place Where Sunflowers Grow, by Amy Lee-Tai and illustrated by Felicia Hoshino, takes place in an internment camp in the U.S. Mari is homesick thinking about memories before she came to the internment camp. Mari and Mama planted sunflower seeds. Mari asked Mama if the sunflowers will grow high, powerful and lovely. "It will take time patience and care," Mama answered nicely.

The next day Papa walked with Mari to Topaz School. Papa asked Mari "Why don't you giggle and speak any more?" When art class started, Mari couldn't think what to draw and when art class finished, Mari's paper was still blank. The next day when Mari went back to Topaz Mrs. Hanamoto said to draw something from before you came here but Mari still couldn't think something so she drew her old backyard. Mama and Papa were worried about Mari. Mari-chan didn't want to talk about it.
The next few days Mari was improving with her art and the walls were filled up with pictures. When Mari and Aiko were walking home together a big blizzard of dust storm went on to Aiko and Mari's skin. It was hard to walk but they tried and tried. When they reached to Mari's barrack they slammed the door immediately. They were coughing and were trying to get some air. The next few days Aiko-chan saw the sunflowers. Aiko called "Mari-chan!" She went running and looked at the sunflowers too and little tiny plants with little green leaves were growing. Mama, Mari, Aiko, and Mari's brother were happy.

This book teaches you that if you are in a scary place, your loved ones will still be there and it makes it less scary for you. Mari and her family had to go to the internment camp because of the World War Two and their things were taken away. A part when it was scary was when Mari and Papa were walking together to Topaz school and men were pointing guns at them. A part when it was happy was when Aiko and Mari were trying to walk through the dust storm and when Mari and Aiko reached Mari's barrack. They were coughing and laughing so Mari felt happy to have a new friend. Another part when Mari is happy is when Aiko saw the sunflowers and Aiko called Mari. When Mari saw the little green leaves she was really happy. I like the way when Mari is shy she still shows who she is to her teacher and her family.

By Boonevie

Amy Lee-Tai's award-winner, A Place Where Sunflowers Grow, is a striking departure from typical picture books. Through the story of little Mari, who cannot understand why her family had to leave their home, young readers are given a poignant glimpse of life in a U.S. Japanese American internment camp during World War II. When Mari finds she cannot draw even a single picture in art class, her teacher suggests that she draw something that made her happy before her family was forced to move to the camp. Reflecting upon the home she had to leave behind, Mari colors a picture of the back yard where she and her brother played on the swing their Papa built, and where the garden was filled with flowers. Sharing her picture with a classmate, Aiko, opens a friendship that blossoms along with the sunflowers Mari planted weeks before. Felicia Hoshino's illustrations are a perfect complement to the story, capturing not only the innocence of childhood, but the harshness of the dreaded camp. Amy Lee-Tai drew upon the experience of her own family in writing A Place Where Sunflowers Grow, sharing with readers the little known realities of this sad and shameful chapter in American history. This bilingual book features text in both English and Japanese. For children six and older, A Place Where Sunflowers Grow should be available in both school and public libraries.

A lovely bilingual picturebook (English/Japanese), A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy Lee-Tai features illustrations from Felicia Hoshino and is the intimate story of a young girl and her life among thousands of other Japanese American families interned by the government during World War II in the Topaz Relocation Center in Utah. Deftly contributing to a historically ill state of America and their world, A Place Where Sunflowers Grow follows Mari through the beginning of her art classes during the heat of the summer, her discovery of life, her newly found passion for art, and the use of her art to cope with the harsh circumstances of her family's confinement. Inspired by the author's personal life and family history, A Place Where Sunflowers Grow is very highly recommended for all young readers ages 6 to 10, as well school and community librarians seeking to augment their bilingual picturebook collections.

In a very straightforward fashion, my uncle tells his story of Bataan and of being a POW. It is a very moving piece of history which should never be forgotten. I strongly urge anybody who has even a passing interest of the Second World War to read this work.

I have found this book to be very interesting and to the point about a mostly unknown tragedy of world war II. Mr. Czerwien gives an indepth look at mans inhumanity to man. Not only about the death march but about the ship that took him to Japan, that in my opinion was worse than the march itself. To survive this ordeal is in itself a miracle. I highly recommend this book to anyone that seeks the truth, from a man who was there.

I teach in a district in suburban Chicago (Maywood) that saw many of its young men go off to the Philippines in the early days of WWII when a local National Guard Unit was sent there (Co. B, 192nd Tnk Bn). Needless to say, after the combat, death march, hell ships, etc. most did not return. Our community was devestated, and they remember Bataan still. I am currently doing a research project with some of my students at Proviso East High School and have done alot of reading on the subject. Mr. Czerwein's books is one of the very best in the whole genre. Its a quick, yet graphic and disturbing read. Another good book is My Hitch in Hell by Lester Tenney, who was a member of the Maywood unit. I met Mr. Czerwien, and Mr. Tenney, a few weeks ago at a Bataan event here at the high school. He is still going strong and told me he is now writing his 3rd book. God Bless Him.

It should be noted that the author of this book "Van Waterford" is actually Willem Wanrooy using a pen name. Wanrooy was not just a researcher. He was a Dutch soldier and survivor of the sinking of the Junyo Maru, one of the "hell ships" used by the Japanese to transport prisoners during WWII. He was rescued from the sea only to be put to work in the camps he writes about here. If he writes more about certain ships or camps than others, it is only due to his personal experience, not a lack of desire for completeness.

The title is self-explanatory. The author accomplished a formidable research job. He lists every known Japanese camp used to detain prisoners of war and allied civilians during World War II and gives a brief history of each. There were hundreds of camps to house more than 100,000 people.

He also describes the conditions (awful) in many of the camps with quotes from inmates. To compare: about 4 percent of American POWs captured by the Germans died compared to about 31 percent of Americans captured by the Japanese.

My purpose in looking at this book was to find accounts written by the POWs and detainees themselves. The bibliography after each section met my need by identifying many primary sources. This is not a book you'll likely read cover to cover, but as a reference book for students of World War II in the Pacific it should be on your shelf.

Smallchief

Van Waterford had compiled the very best overall view of the massive internment of prisoners by the Japanese during WWII. (He clearly cites the record that the Japanese decided to consider the civilian internees as POWS, a decision many to this day refuse to recognize)Since the Japanese deliberately destroyed all relevent records, it took a dedicated historian to compile from hundred of sources the best compilation of facts and figures I have ever seen. This is a must for any serious research on the subject. One of the better listings of the infamous Hell Ships even though multiple voyages seemed to be ignored and a number of ships not mentioned. The compilation of pow camps by region also is the most complete I have ever seen. Having studied the POW experience for many years and owner of hundreds of books relating to the subject, I place this on the very top shelf.

Another great read from Barry Eisler, he hooks you into the story straight a way. John Rain, a Japanese American konketsu, or half-breed, learned his lethal trade as a member of the U.S. Special Forces. Although tortured by memories of atrocities he committed in Vietnam, he has become a paid assassin, a solitary man who lives in the shadows and trusts no one, even those who pay extraordinary sums for his ability to make murder look like natural death. But the aftermath of an otherwise routine hit on a government bureaucrat brings Rain to the attention of two men he knows from the old days in Vietnam: a friend who's now a Tokyo cop and an enemy who betrayed Rain long ago and is now the CIA's station chief in Japan. Like the gangster who hired Rain to kill Yasuhiro Kawamura, they want something the dead man had--a computer disk containing proof of high-level corruption, information that could destroy Japan's ruling political coalition. The search for the disk leads them to a woman Rain has come to love, a talented young jazz musician who also happens to be Kawamura's daughter. In this taut, brilliantly paced debut thriller, set in a vividly rendered Tokyo, the author manages an unlikely feat; he earns the reader's sympathy and concern for his protagonist, an amoral assassin who is one of most compelling characters in recent crime fiction.

The book was delivered on time in excellent condition as described. I Will use this merchant again!

Assasin John Rain only has three rules about accepting a contract; no women or children, no other parties retained to solve the problem at hand, and no non-principals. The only problem he has now, is that if he hopes to survive the next few days, he might need to forget all three.

Rain Fall opens in full stride as Rain stalks his next victim, then picks up speed when he's unexpectedly thrown together with the Jazz singing daughter of the high ranking bureaucrat he's just killed.

Tough former CIA agents are a dime a dozen in fiction, but mixed-blood Rain somehow manages to avoid the cliche and seems at the same time fresh and original. A fascinating blend of two worlds, belonging to neither, he spends a good deal of time exploring the nature of cultural divides and searching for his true identity. For readers who love off beat tough guy detective novels and don't blink at violence and murder, Rain Fall is a worthy read sure to rank high on your list of the year's best reads.

Art Tirrell is the author of the 2007 adventure novel "The Secret Ever Keeps."

"simply put...the best underwater scenes I've ever read." M. Westley

I just finish reading it and every one gotta read it its alot of action and its so cool iam telling you you gotta read it.I never taught that Rurouni Kenshin was so cool.

These novels have kept my attention sinse I first picked up #1 at the store. Kenshin is a true feel-good comedy that is NOWHERE near corney. I just fell in love with the wandering samurai from the very beginning, and I have yet to be disappointed with him!
This novel moves right along with the plot that the second volume left off on. It's all about the mysterious and somewhat annoying Miss. Megumi. She may get press all the wrong buttons with everyone else, but Kenshin still refuses to abandon someone who needs his help, AND THAT'S WHY WE LOVE HIM!!
At first Ruroni Kenshin may seem the same as other dime-a-dozen manga series. Only by reading it can you fully realize just how different and refreshing this series really is. It provides you with characters that you like, and storylines that dont insult your intellegence. In my opinion, Kenshin is the best new manga around. Ken-chan definatly has raised the bar of manga standards, and I'm sure glad he did!! If the story keeps going like it has, theres no telling what new levels of greatness it will reach, so don't be left behind!! READ IT!!!

With the Jinne incident over, Kenshin and his friends have become a bit closer. Defeating a mass murderer usually does that... Soon enough though, Kenshin meets Megumi, who's running from her own problems. Kenshin, being a kindred soul and sensing goodness in her, decides to protect her.

When Megumi's "employer" sends his posse to retrieve her, they encounter some difficulties. In their attack on the dojo, we see a little more into the relationships between the characters. Kenshin inspires great loyalty with his kindness and willingness to stand in harms way for the sake of others. He may act clumsy and aloof, but he actually sees much and understands and appreciates much. Because of this, Karou, despite knowing him for just a short time, has great faith in him and as with the others, will stand by him. Megumi came to Kenshin just because she saw he was wearing a sword, but through this incident, she begins to see him in a new light.

Things, however, get a little more complicated, as they always do, but I'll leave that alone. The story moves forward and remember that the whole Kenshin story is ten times better than any individual part.

This book is composed of seven extended stories, each centered around a person living in the Philippines during the first three quarters of the 20th century. Some of the stories focus on members of the privileged, land-owning Graciela family, some on the family's servants and employees. All of the characters are believable, well-rounded individuals. I found their stories to be fascinating.

But the remarkable thing about the book is how well it paints a picture of the larger society. The various individuals' stories show us the land, its people and their culture from both the aristocrats' and the peasants' perspectives. The stories also show us a society changing over the generations -- slowly before the war, then suddenly and traumatically during the Japanese occupation.

Dr. Chung introduces each of her stories with a short fable because, as she explains, "Some truths are best expressed in a fable; some circumstances demand explanations and give birth to stories." This book does an excellent job of expressing the truths and explaining the circumstances of its characters' world. Reading the book was both an education and a pleasure.

Here is a novel which proves history is the story of lives and how they functioned within the context of their own times. The Rush of the River is a slice of Philippine history poignantly woven and the stories of each succeeding generational offshoot of Don Gracielo and his family. Their lives beautifully told, reveal the cultural marks of Spanish, American, and even the short-lived Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Chung fuses their personal lives into interesting story vignettes. History in such manner told, was palatably read. /Ophie Lopez

This novel should interest those interested in World War II, and offers a very unique view (in fiction) of it: by focussing on the Japanese occupation of the Phillippines and its affects on the life of a family and its social circle, low and high.

For anyone with an interest in law or history this is a great read. Justice Rutledge was my grandfather's first cousin -- thus the initial reason I bought the book. Unfortunately the dust jacket was crinkled upon arrival so I'll have to send it back for a new copy.

As the folks at Amazon could tell you, I read many novels and very few biographies. I am a corporate lawyer, and have not practiced constitutional law since I clerked for Judge Ferren, the author of this Rutledge bio, more than 20 years ago. I picked up this book because of my connection to the author, but I stuck with it for other reasons. First, the writing is elegant and precise; it is a very readable book. The book tells the story of a good man (and very good lawyer/dean/judge) who is concerned with doing his job right, respected others, was respected by others in return, and achieved great things -- what an encouraging, uncynical story! (Not dissimilar to the author's own story, a fact that creates an extra richness of texture in this book, especially in its descriptions of the life of an appellate judge.) In addition, the constitutional issues that the Court dealt with during WWII and the immediate post-war era remain fascinating -- and very timely. These issues are made understandable to nonexperts without being oversimplified. I learned a lot, and greatly enjoyed the process.

At long last, thanks to Judge Ferren, we have a complete biography of Justice Wiley Rutledge. While Rutledge is not much remembered today, and his tenure on the Supreme Court was relatively brief (1943-49), his significance merits more attention than he has received. Judge Ferren employs a completely different approach than the only other biography of the Justice, Harper's "Justice Rutledge and the Bright Constellation" (1965). Harper focused almost exclusively upon Justice Rutledge's decisions. Judge Ferren does not get Rutledge on the court until page 222 (out of 548). While one might conclude that perhaps too much detail occupies the pre-Court discussion, I can't think of another judicial biography that so effectively affords one a feeling of becoming so intimately familiar with its subject. This initial section is particularly effective in discussing the political maneuvering that accompanied filling several vacancies on the Court, including Rutledge's. The book's central focus, Rutledge on the Court, is very well developed. Judge Ferren not only brings his own insight into the judicial process to his analysis, but discusses some unique aspects as well, such as Rutledge's habit of asking trusted law faculty members their opinions on issues before the court, and Rutledge's exhaustive preparation for writing opinions. The book also adds to our understanding of the personal interplay in that most bombastic of Supreme Courts, that chaired by Chief Justice Stone. Interspersed with the discussion of Court cases is additional biographical material relating to the Justice. Finally, the underlying research is simply awesome--truly a labor of love. While it is a very long book, if you are interested in Justice Rutledge or his period on the Court, it makes for indispensable reading.

Sometimes when reading or thinking or, simply, being direct witness to the casual cruelty that God is so evidently fond of, we feel a small bubble become loosened in the vicinity of our inner soul and, rising and expanding, it reaches surface and our faces spontaneously contract and our eyes fill with tears and we must sit quietly for a moment and, in my case, wish that we could smash that God squarely in it's hellish face. But it passes and we are again back in the normal universe where we understand that things just are. The reader of this book has more than one opportunity for such experience. The slightly elitest tone of the author does not detract but, somehow, offers some hope that we may grow up. The translation, as well as I can judge having lived only four years in Hiroshima, is superb.

This book is the heartrending story of a Japanese child prostitute. She was sold by her family at the age of 8 to a sex slave trafficker, shipped to North Borneo (port of Sandakan) and forced to work in the sex business at the age of 12, even before she had her first menstruation.

The roots of the trafficking system were religious, economic and political.
On the religious front, the Confucian system of patriarchy determined the social duties of women. They were told to obey first their fathers, than their husbands and ultimately their sons. The social superiority of the male permitted the exploitation of women financially, physically, sexually and emotionally.

Economically, high taxation rates for the farmers (60 % of the yield went to the landlord) provoked poverty and famine: 'There were days when I would have nothing to swallow but water from morning 'til night.'
Starving peasants felt compelled to sell their daughtes in order to save the rest of the family.
The main character in this book, Osaki, agreed (?) at the age of 8 to be sold in order to permit her brother to buy farmland.

This poverty was aggravated by the settlement policies of the government provoking a burgeoning population in the region.
More, the Japanese government did nothing against the traffickers. On the contrary, it needed the foreign currency sent back by the sex slaves in order to become, as it said, a strong nation.
The selling of children in Japan has only been abolished in 1959.

After the exploitation by the government and the landlords, the children were milked by the traffickers, who took 50 % of their earnings and compelled them to redeem with the rest their original inflated 'investment'.

Having heavily supported the Japanese nation with their bodies, the sex workers were looked upon as 'Boule de Suif's' by the rest of the population when they could come back home. They tried to avoid to be recognized in order to escape their social 'stigma'.
Osaki survived prychologically nearly unscathed and without guilt her harsh experience.

This book is a profound human document about the struggle for survival. It is excellently introduced by Karen Colligan-Taylor.
Highly recommended, not only for Japanese scholards.

I also recommend the autobiography of the geisha Sayo Masuda, as well as the work of Robert Van Gulik 'Sexual Life in Ancient China'.

Sometimes when reading or thinking or, simply, being direct witness to the casual cruelty that God is so evidently fond of, we feel a small bubble become loosened in the vicinity of our inner soul and, rising and expanding, it reaches surface and our faces spontaneously contract and our eyes fill with tears and we must sit quietly for a moment and, in my case, wish that we could smash that God squarely in it's hellish face. But it passes and we are again back in the normal universe where we understand that things just are. The reader of this book has more than one opportunity for such experience. The slightly elitest tone of the author does not detract, but offers some hope, that we may grow up. The translation, as well as I can judge having lived only four years in Hiroshima, is superb.

'The Sandscrapers' - A Forgotten Navy
'The Sandscrapers' is a novel about a World War II naval officer and the ship he commands from Norfolk, Virginia through the Panama Canal, and all through the south pacific. The storylines (and all the events) are so realistic, the book must be based on actual events. I have not read a novel that tells about this sector of the navy. Maybe that is why the title is 'A Forgotten Navy'. The book is so intriguing that not only a World War II history buff would enjoy the book, but anyone interested in a good story. I highly recommend 'The Sandscrapers'.

The life & times of the men & wives of a forgotten amphibious force of landing vessels serving in the Pacific during WWII.

Within the covers of this unassuming, modest saga, you will meet brave & true ordinary men as they serve their country in extra-ordinary times. You will read of their recruitment & maneuvers, their frustrations & heroism, their terrors & poetry. You will see patriotism in action, gruff & ready, tender & determined.

THE SANDSCRAPERS is a unique addition to any military library!

Nominated for the Third Annual Library of Virginia Fiction Award, Griffin Garnett's The Sandscrapers is a naval adventure novel set on the high seas, aboard the "Landing Ship Medium Program." Set in the southwest Pacific during the deadly days of World War II, The Sandscrapers is a story of heroism, struggle, sacrifice, and endurance, exciting, involving, and highly recommended reading from first page to last.

This could've been featured in our collector's section or even our sports section, but is presented here for its powerful artistic survey of Japanese sports through its lovely baseball card art. SAYONARA HOME RUN! THE ART OF THE JAPANESE BASEBALL CARD features player history, card art, and loved and hated baseball teams alike. It will attract any with an interest in world baseball or in collectible ballgame cards - and many a browser with an interest in neither!

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

This could've been featured in our collector's section or even our sports section, but is presented here for its powerful artistic survey of Japanese sports through its lovely baseball card art. SAYONARA HOME RUN! THE ART OF THE JAPANESE BASEBALL CARD features player history, card art, and loved and hated baseball teams alike. It will attract any with an interest in world baseball or in collectible ballgame cards - and many a browser with an interest in neither!

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

Vinatge Japanese baseball cards are among the most beautiful baseball collectibles in the world. I discovered these treasures over ten years ago during a trip to Japan and became an avid collector. My passion for the cards eventually led to a on-line card business and a career as a baseball writer. John Gall and Gary Engel's new book Sayanara Homerun! depicts hundreds, if not thousands, of theese beautiful cards. The book's presentation is wonderful. Cards are gracefully portrayed as art but the accompanying text will statisfy both baseball card collectors and fans of Japanese baseball.

If you are an American baseball cards collector, come see what you are missing. If you a fan of Japanese baseball, come see great pictures of your favorite stars.

I spend hours paging through this book and expect that you will enjoy it as much as I have.