Book Description

Here is the stunning account of K'tut Tantri's life in Java as a young artist and later as a resistance fighter for Indonesian independence. 8-page black-and-white photo insert. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very Interesting
Very good book. Tells a fascinating story about the author's life in Indonesia. Brave lady who was willing to risk everything for all she believed in.Vivid picture of Bali and the situation there, and the people and culture. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Disappointing
The book consists of a long introduction written by Inger Brodey, discussing Soseki's works and life, and devoting some attention to the work translated in the body of the book: Soseki's "Travels in Manchuria and Korea".This book has never before been translated into English, unfortunately for good reason.Brodey mentions in the introduction that Japanese critics have generally not been very friendly to the work, deriding it as being a work mainly about Soseki's daily petty concerns and personal health as he travels through Manchuria.(The narration ends before Soseki reached Korea.No-one would be surprised, I think, if Soseki had been disappointed with his own work and decided to end it early since it was achieving nothing of real value.)These were my sentiments exactly; its narrative is tedious and lacking in any development.

I myself am a great admirer of Soseki's works and literary achievements, but this book will add nothing to his reputation and will be ignored. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Must read "Bataan Death March: A Survivor's Account"
"Bataan Death March: A Survivor's Account" by William E. Dyess is a very descriptive book about the Bataan Death March, a torturous march from Bataan to various prison camps. The march started on April 10, 1042, and it involved American and Filipino soldiers being stripped of their belongings and forced to walk about 100 miles in the hot sun. The soldiers were cruelly treated by the Japanese soldiers, usually beaten until unable to walk and sometimes killed right on the spot. Most of the time they were not given food or water, and when they were given food, the portions would be just a small bite.
The book gives readers a look at the Bataan Death March from an actual U.S. soldier's experience. Lt. Col. Dyess survived this horrendous act and he decided to write a book to tell the American people what he went through. The book was very well written, and it had many details of the march, details that no history text book could even start to explain.
I really liked "Bataan Death March: A Survivor's Account" because it gave me a sense of what the soldiers had to go through. Dyess' experiences helped me understand the awfulness of the Bataan Death March because he explained them so vividly, and even through his words I could hear the passion in his voice. With the author being a survivor, having a first-hand account of what actually happened on the Bataan Death March really helps readers understand the enormity of the situation.
All in all, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about what happened on the Bataan Death March. It is a very poweful book that takes the reader back in time to World War II. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive look at Japanese cinema in the 1990's includes nearly four hundred reviews of individual films and a dozen interviews and profiles of leading directors and producers. Interpretive essays provide an overview of some of the key issues and themes of the decade, and provide background and context for the treatment of individual films and artists.

In Mark Schilling's view, Japanese film is presently in a period of creative ferment, with a lively independent sector challenging the conventions of the industry mainstream. Younger filmmakers are rejecting the stale formulas that have long characterized major studio releases, reaching out to new influences from other media - television, comics, music videos, and even computer games - and from both the West and other Asian cultures. In the process they are creating fresh and exciting films that range from the meditative to the manic, offering hope that Japanese film will not only survive but thrive as it enters the new millenium. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Useful
I found this book to be useful in giving a broad range of information on contemporary Japanese film makers. Although It was not always clear why Schilling had chosen to feature certain directors and not others. I was able to link the directors together which was helpful but I wished there had been more detailed film reviews

Thought Provoking
The Japanese reporter for the prestigious Screen International, Mark Schilling gets to see all the new films in advance, and brings not just a reviewer's critical eye, but a linguist's critical ear = his comments on translation and delivery add a whole new dimension lacking from writers who can't speak Japanese. His comments, even where I don't initially agree with them, such as his Poppoya review, are always thought-provoking and worthy of consideration, and his introductory essays on the state of modern Japanese film are unequalled in the current market. Some of the background stories, such as the influence of the Middle Eastern carpet trade on the Japanese film business, are quite mind boggling, bu also bery interesting explanations for some of the strange behaviour of Japanese film producers. An excellent survey of Japanese film in the 1990s, from someone who was there when it all happened.

Everything you need to know about Contemporary Japanese Cine
One of the better and hipper books on Japan is the Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture, by Mark Schilling. Schilling is one of the few foreigners who can really distinguish the important icons of Japanese culture from the stuff that's of less interest. It was with great relief that I found his Contemporary Japanese Film, focusing on cinema from the 1990s. Not surprisingly, he makes reference to the golden age of Japanese cinema in the 1950s, including the magnificent talents of Kurosawa, Ozu, and Mizoguchi, in an effort to understand what has gone wrong in the nation's cinema since then: a downward spiral of bad talent and visionless film producers. Ever since, there has been little international attention paid to Japanese cinema except for the interesting work of '60s mavericks Nagisa Oshima and Seijun Suzuki (the "Sam Fuller of Japan").

According to Schilling, there were some new beams of light in the Japanese cinema of the '90s. Leading the pack is filmmaker Takeshi "Beat" Kitano, who has already gotten serious attention in the States and Europe for his stylized gangster films, such as Sonatine (1993); and the hysterical films by the late (and very much missed) Juzo Itami, who made the culinary adventure Tampopo. So it is not surprising that the two most interesting interviews in the book are with these filmmakers. Takeshi must be the hardest-working man in the world: He makes at least two films a year plus eight television episodes a week. He tells a funny story about how on one talk show dealing with food and drink; he fell asleep on television due to the alcohol. The other guests just went on their merry way while commenting every so often on Takeshi's sleeping habits. He claims that there is no pressure doing that much television shows because nothing is planned; it is even relaxing. It is worth noting that, on the side, he has a career as a kind of Japanese David Letterman.

As for Itami, who is known for his television acting as well as his films, his interview focuses on how contemporary Japanese culture is conveyed in different aspects of his film work. Itami has made fun of everything from family practice (The Funeral) to the Japanese Mafia, the Yakuza (as a result, he had his face slashed by a Yakuza member).

The second half of the book includes nearly 400 Japanese film reviews by Schilling, published originally in the Japan Times. I would recommend this book not only to film fans, but also to readers who are interested in contemporary Japanese culture. Schilling, along with American journalist Donald Ritchie, has excellent insight into what makes Japan tick, and also understands the nature of kitsch in Japanese culture

The most comprehensive resource on the subject available
Mark Schilling is a film reviewer for one of the Tokyo newspapers, so this book is made up of all the films released in the past 10 years, bundled up with a load of articles/interviews with the like of Shunji 'Swallowtail Butterfly' Iwai and Juzo 'Tampopo' Itami. He writes very well, but most interesting is the wide diversity of the films reviewed. It's far more comprehensive than Weisser's book, which would have you believe that Pinku Eiga were the only type of films being made in Japan in the 90's. Most of the films reviewed have probably had little release outside of Asia. This definitely the best book out there on the subject. ... Read more

Book Description

With Bumiller's intimate, beautifully written portrait of a middle-class Tokyo housewife, readers finally penetrate the mysteries of the Japanese people to see how they differ from us, and how they are alike. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

This books paints a truely accurate picture of Japanese.
After having lived in Japan for almost twenty years it was a pleasure to read The Secrets of Mariko. Most books portray the Japanese with an overdose of stereotypes and generalizations so people who are not familiar with Japan can get innacurate ideas. By interviewing Mariko and her family and acquaintances in depth, the author of this book managed to come up with a fairly accurate portrayal of modern Japanese life. @@Even though the interviews took place in the early 1990's@and Japan has changed since then, a reader can get a pretty good idea of what life is like for many Japanese families today. Mariko's family situation is, of course their own and is unique in many ways. The family's attitudes and ideas, however are not unique. If a reader wants to get a good understanding on modern Japanese life this is an excellent book to read. @

Window into another lifestyle
This book provides glimpses of the lifestyle of an average Japanese housewife. Written by a journalist rather than an anthropologist, the author explores the life and important events of Mariko over the course of a year. Through the author's interviews, we learn the history of the family and the views of Mariko, her husband and children on such topics as family life, parenting, and work. As a journalist, Bumiller is quite interested in Japanese opinions and attitudes about current events, so Mariko and her family explain some of their complex feelings about the U.S. We visit the children's schools and work places, and see where they go on vacation. Along the way, Bumiller also interviews prominent Japanese who are in some way connected to aspects of Mariko's life, such as politicians, the head of the mob, and a talk show host. By the end of the book, readers are familiar with many details of average Japanese family life, something that would be unattainable unless one were to either grow up in Japan or live for long enough in Japan to develop close friendships with locals. But even Bumiller points out that she has only scratched the surface, and there is much about Mariko's life that we can never comprehend just by reading a book.

A great look at the grass-roots...
The best books about other cultures are those that start at the bottom and work up. In this book Elisabeth Bumiller interviews a Japanese women and her family, friends and others linked to the family to give a very detailed picture of a Japanese family from 1991 to 1992. We get to join festivals, sit in at PTA meetings, visit mobsters, learn about local politics, find out what family issues the Japanese have and even the family's view on America and international events.
NOTE: The author has very strong views of her own and will state them, but don't let that get in the way of the rest of the book. She digs up a LOT of information and makes it clear that while the Japanese might have different ways of thinking or doing stuff, they do have some of the same goals, dreams and fears.

A great book for those interested in Japanese culture
True, this book is written from a Western perspective, but as most of the readers are coming from that same perspective, this did not bother me. This book examines the life of Mariko and her
family and gets beyond the surface to examine work, love, gender roles, growing up, school, traditions, and more in modern-day Japan. It is fascinating and will make you want to know more about Japan and Japanese culture.

Outside, looking in
As much as the author's view on the complex dynamics of the Japaese appears simplistic and limited, nonetheless, her observations are keen and her articulation of her own reactions are flawless. This is not meant to be a judgemental account of the West looking at the East. Rather, it is a collection of one's own analysis and predilections of a society- an attempt at wrapping one's mind around an organic, enigmatic phenamenon. Thoughtful, genuine, true to the Asian experience that not all things can be said on the words of a page. ... Read more

Book Description

Challenging the notion that Nikkei individuals before and during World War II were helpless pawns manipulated by forces beyond their control, the diverse essays in this rich collection focus on the theme of resistance within Japanese American and Japanese Canadian communities to twentieth-century political, cultural, and legal discrimination. They illustrate how Nikkei groups were mobilized to fight discrimination through assertive legal challenges, community participation, skillful print publicity, and political and economic organization.

Comprised of all-new and original research, this is the first anthology to highlight the contributions and histories of Nikkei within the entire Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very Cool
This lady's life story has helped me understand both the Japanese people and how God's grace extends itself in the context of the culture of those receiving it. It would be fascinating simply as a biography of triumph in the face of life. It is made much more so as a spiritual journey's unwinding. Miura (I believe her married name is Hotta ?) also has a most gentle way of bringing other people's life intersections with hers into a focus I have rarely read in an author....One feels one is there in the room with the people she meets. Honesty to a fault was a breath of fresh air. She does not attempt to spline the curve of her actions and thoughts closer to some more genteel model. Reading this one is privileged to meet Ayako Miura and the Answer she discovers to the meaning of life in bold relief.

Hokkaido, birthplace of Miyura Ayako
The story is set in Japan. It's a very powerful and gripping book about a young woman's journey during the years following Japan's surrender.

The book is part one of three from Miyura Ayako's autobiography. The other two parts are not available in English to my knowledge. I really recommend this book for anyone who wants an interesting perspective on Japanese culture. Of course, it's set about 50 years ago, though... but still very interesting and as I said, powerful.

I found this book in a tiny drugstore in Idaho. So, keep your eyes peeled and you might find it yourself somewhere.

Gripping Unforgettable
One of the most memorable books I've read. Very Surprised to here it's out of print.

A truely emotional and powerful read.
A friend loaned me this book to read over 11 years ago, and I was moved to tears on several occasions throughout the book. My memory is not the best, but I recall a gripping story of a young girl's fight to survive disease and dictatorship in China at the beginning of the century. The book, for me, was exremely emotional, powerful and heartbreaking - it has obviously had a tremendous effect, for me to remember the author's name (let alone the title). I have tried to get a copy of this book for many years, and I was actually starting to think I may have dreamt about this book, until I started a search on this web page, and guess what - my book does exist! All that's left is for me to track down a second hand copy (any help greatly appreciated). ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

A good read about an American patriot
Arthur Rathburn's short oral history of Akira Toki is an excellent study of America's treatment of AJA (a term used during World War Two for "Americans of Japanese Ancestory.")
This is a story rich in tales of racial tolerance, racial intolerance, and American Patriotism. One gets a fresh and interesting view of life in America for American born and raised persons of Japanese Ancestory. It is not just a tale of regret or of bitterness. but a good over view of many of the complicated aspects of the subject. When one reads the book there is a definate desire to want to meet this true American, Akira Toki. ... Read more

Book Description

In the spring of 1974, Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda of the Japanese army made world headlines when he emerged from the Philippine jungle after a thirty-year ordeal. Hunted in turn by American troops, the Philippine police, hostile islanders, and successive Japanese search parties, Onoda had skillfully outmaneuvered all his pursuers, convinced that World War II was still being fought and that one day his fellow soldiers would return victorious. This account of those years is an epic tale of the will to survive that offers a rare glimpse of man's invincible spirit, resourcefulness, and ingenuity. A hero to his people, Onoda wrote down his experiences soon after his return to civilization. This book was translated into English the following year and has enjoyed an approving audience ever since. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great book about survival and duty
This is the first person account of the last Japanese soldier to fight in WWII. Lt. Onoda was under orders to "never surrender" unless ordered by competent authority. At the end of the war, his command structure was non-existent. He continued his mission to disrupt allied war efforts until the early 1970s. He was reduced to raiding Phillipine villages and destroying their rice crops to inflict damage on the enemies of Japan. His overwhelming sense of duty infuses every page. His description of daily existence in the jungle and mountains provides detailed advice for survival without outside resources. The fitting of known outside events into his paranoid world view is insightful commentary on the human mind. For example, when a shipment of war surplus from a shipwreck washed up on the beach of his island in the 1950s, he and his companions convinced themselves that it meant the Japanese were still transporting troops by ship in the area. All efforts, via loudspeaker and leaflets, to convince him that the war was over were likewise explained away as a subterfuge. Although this book is hard to get, it is a valuable addition to any survival or military library

NO SURRENDER
When I first heard the story about the author of this book I thought "Oh yeah right, this soldier thought the war was still in progress and stayed in the jungle for 30 years!" Well, that is exactly what happened. This book gives the reader an interesting insight into the mentality of WW II Japanese soldiers. I used to think that the Japanese soldiers of WWII were a bunch of nuts who fought to the death rather than surrender. However, I learned this is how they were raised and to them it was an honor to die in battle or commit suicide but a disgrace to be taken captive. Lt.Onoda was ordered by a superior officer to take to the jungle and continue the fight against the American troops and told not to NOT commit suicide. It is actually surprising that this soldier did in fact surrender. It is almost beyond my comprehension that this loyal and devoted army officer carried out his duty to his country and emperor for 30 years. This was a fascinating book and very enlightening to see the "other guy's" point of view. If you enjoy first hand adventure stories then this book is for you!

Inspiring and Amazing Story!
No Surrender, by Hiroo Onada, is a very interesting book! It tells the story of a Japanese soldier during World War II who was sent by his superior's to a secluded island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on a mission. However, he and his party, due to the nature of their work, were not informed that World War II had officially ended. For the next 30 years, he travels around the island pilfering, storing, sneaking, and scouting, still believing he was doing his duty to Japan.

Although there were repeated attempts to contact Onada, all failed. For instance, he found a newspaper article about himself about 10 years after the war ended. He believed the article was "enemy propaganda" and was "an attempt to get me to surrender".

Finally, in the 70's, Onada's superior ranking officer finally made contact with him and told him to come home. He complied.

No Surrender is an incredibly interesting read, even if you're not interested in history/World War II. The story is very captivating, and Onada's will to survive is amazing.

I would definitely recommend this book.

Heartbreaking!
This book had some light moments, but it was really heartbreaking because every trial and tribulation that Onoda endured was completely unnecessary.

The style of the book is very prosaic, getting across the basic facts without (alas) many lengthy digressions from his main line of describing life in the jungle. Unfortunately, life after Lubang island was not described in the book. We certainly learn a lot about life in the jungle, though. Typical sentences begin like:

"Speaking of stings..."
"More troublesome than the rats were the ants..."
"Some years it would rain all through May..."

He endured all this for 30 years, for nothing. 30 years eating green bananas.

The psychology of it all is fascinating; he constructed a model of how the war was going on and examined all the evidence he had in light of this unshakeable belief. The Japanese soldier must have been fearsome indeed, if even a fraction of them had the strength of conviction that Onoda had.

Definitely worth a read.

MUST READ.
You might have heard of the urban legend of the Japanese soldier who lived on an island until the 70's thinking the war was still on. Well its true. One was found on Guam and three on various Phillipine islands.
Lt. Onada was specifically told in 1945 to hold the fort and the Japanese navy will be back shortly as the US marines advanced on the island.
Onada and three others lived this for many years. The other groups of Japanese soldiers on the island were slowly captured or shot. Finally in 1951 they were the last 4. Two died over the years as they lived in temporary lean to's and shelters waiting for the arrival of the navy to liberate them.

They created a whole world in there circle of a Asian pact group of countries fighting the Americans. Search parties looking for them included brothers and parents. The soldiers knew they had been captured of tricked into ferreting the hiding soldiers out.

Finally in 1970 the only other soldier died when shot by local police in a shoot out with the soldiers. Finally in 1974 Lt. Onada came across a Japanese youngster who was camping on the island looking for him. The problem was his existence was in question (kind of like Bigfoot) and the camper took his picture to the Japanese press. He was finally met by a senior officer who was still alive and realized his entire adult life had been a ruse.

Incredibly touching and thought provoking. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fabulous Fotos
Excellent and beautiful book.Fascinating design elements and solutions.Written in English, French and German simultaneously.Gorgeous, highest resolution, photographic reproductions.Every art or architecture library should include it.

do more photos make more money?
All the volumes of "contemporary architects" books, i know 6 of them, includes lots of photos that can be seen in any of architectural magazines. But there must be something more. In fact it is cheap to buy,but just in Amazon.com i think. In Turkey it is sold in cash and idon't want to pay so much money for a little idea. ... Read more

Book Description

From Our Side of the Fence contains the first-person accounts of eleven former internees who recall their memories of youth in America's concentration camps. This collection traces each author's personal journey through war, giving voice to a history that has been silenced.This book also offers lesson plans for use by educators and students and for internees who wish to tell their own stories. ... Read more

Amazon.com

California peach farmer David Mas Masumoto's Four Seasons in Five Senses is about awareness--of the process by which peaches are grown and enjoyed; of the sensual "stories" by which farmers learn their work and place in it; and of farming itself, whose cycles of birth, growth, and decay make it a telling metaphor of life. In a series of short essays, such as "How to Eat Peach," "Got Umami," and "The Art of Grunting" (an amusing exploration of work sounds), Masumoto shows readers his inner-outer world. Masumoto's eye is, however, always fixed on the narratives we tell ourselves. "The best farmers of personalized products strive to create true stories and personal connections through our fruits," says Masumoto, "a journey through four seasons in five senses." But Masumoto also lives in the world of commercial imperatives. "We [farmers] work for pennies," he says, "and people of America spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than do people in any other country." A provider of a highly perishable "handmade" product that must nonetheless reach consumers in a state worthy of his commitment to it, Masumoto is frustrated by the plight of "slow food" in a fast-food world. "Farming must be circular in contrast to the straight lines of business," he says.

Despite repetitiveness, some overreaching prose ("I see with my senses, aware ... a tree with peach lights in it, a siren of harvest time," for example), and an inclination to self-regard (as opposed to self-attentiveness), readers will follow Masumoto's tale avidly, enjoying particularly his depictions of the peach growing process. For those of us lost to modern industrial life, the realization that there is a farmer behind every piece of fruit our supermarkets sell, and that his or her whole awareness can be in that fruit, is a revelation. That disclosure is at the center of Masumoto's enlightening tale. --Arthur Boehm ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Love of the Land
The writer is a farmer who grows organic peaches and grapes (for raisins) in California. That's about like saying that Mother Teresa is a nun from Eastern Europe...true enough as far as it goes, but it misses the point. The writer is a gentle philosopher who loves his farm and his crops and celebrates both with all of his senses throughout the year. To read this book is to share that intense feeling about the land and growing things, along with the hope and despair that accompanies each crop.

In very few books do you encounter such a deep love of the land and growth of plants and sensitivity to it. Seldom do you find an understanding of the unity and wholeness of farming in its true sense. The writer incorporates his own Japanese background and the labour of his parents and grandparents and the toil of his Mexican farm laborers into his understanding of the soil, the climate, the market and most of all the fruit he grows.

All five senses are used to give the reader a multi-dimensional feeling of immediacy. The writer shares with us the sweat, the dust, the heat, the memories and the hopes - all the complexities of growing a truly luscious peach. This is no sentimental view of farming, but it does explore the soul of the relationship between a man and the land.

This book is for anyone who loves the land and understand the magic of growing things.

Peach love
Reading David Masumoto's Epitaph for a Peach changed the way I viewed peaches. While I always liked peaches, Masumoto's passion for peaches elevated them to the top of the fruit ladder. However, I felt that he had reached the end of that genre. How much more was there to say about peaches and peach growing? I was wrong. Four Seasons and Five Senses is a wonderful book which deepens my affection of peaches and enhances my knowledge of the process.

He has grown so much as a writer since Epitaph for a Peach. He's able to bring to life the love of farming, the excitement about organic peaches, the anxieties about the market and weather, the sensuality of eating luscious fruit, the uncertainty of prices, and the difficulty of the labor. He breaks the stereotype of ignorant farmers. He connects peach farming with such diverse subjects as chamber music, migrant labor, and entomology.

I did not want the book to end.

Having tasted Masumoto's peaches also helps for they truly are amazing. I recommend the book to anyone who appreciates good food, wants to know about the experience of organic farming, and is interested in whole process of getting a peach to market.

What a delightful book
Reading David Masumoto's Epitaph for a Peach changed the way I viewed peaches. While I always liked peaches, Masumoto's passion for peaches elevated them to the top of the fruit ladder. However, I felt that he had reached the end of that genre. How much more was there to say about peaches and peach growing? I was wrong. Four Seasons and Five Senses is a wonderful book which deepens my affection of peaches and enhances my knowledge of the process.

He has grown so much as a writer since Epitaph for a Peach. He's able to bring to life the love of farming, the excitement about organic peaches, the anxieties about the market and weather, the sensuality of eating luscious fruit, the uncertainty of prices, and the difficulty of the labor. He breaks the stereotype of ignorant farmers. He connects peach farming with such diverse subjects as chamber music, migrant labor, and entomology.

I did not want the book to end.

Having tasted Masumoto's peaches also helps for they truly are amazing. I recommend the book to anyone who appreciates good food, wants to know about the experience of organic farming, and is interested in whole process of getting a peach to market. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Valuable life lessons
Because this is an autobiography, the reader should not expect a commercialized plot that is conjured just for effect. In its place, we get a true story of an American girl and her family who are trapped in the beaurocracy of war. Yoshi, her sister and her parents are imprisoned in Japanese internment camps during World War II and she describes the injustice, embarassment and blatant racism her family and over 120,000 West Coast Japanese Americans endure. The story evokes emotions concerning issues such as human rights vs. national security and ethnicity vs. patiriotism. Uchida writes in candid clear language with vivid decriptions that manage to convey the complex issues surrounding racism without being didactic.

Autobiography written for children
Yoshiko Uchida writes of her childhood, growing up in California as a Japanese American during World War II. She vividly describes her internment experience through the eyes of a young adult. This is an important book because it documents the Japanese American experience. It also reveals the strong Christian faith of this family. The story rings of truth and how an "average" person deals with adversity. This book only rates three stars because although the story is interesting, the plot was predictable. I was not left with a breathtaking feeling after reading this book. My favorite books leave me thinking about them for days or even weeks afterwards. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A bit disappointing
What I wanted out of this book was not really what I got. I wanted a personal memoir filled with interesting anectdotes, recountings of battles the author fought in and guerilla operations, in short: adventure. Perhaps you will think that a little bloodthristy of me, but it is what I bought the book for.

However, I found these things to be few and far between. There are a trifling amount of these kinds of episodes, but mostly Ray Hunt and his ghost writer gloss over these points of interest (for me, anyway) to comment on generalities of guerilla life in the Philippines and "to set the record straight." Though this was the first book I have read on guerilla operations in the Philippines, it quickly became clear that there are several camps with opposing views about what really happened during the war among US/Filipino guerilla forces, and each tries to get its version of events to be taken as history. Mr Hunt makes an effort to give his side of the story throughout the book from mostly personal information, so in this respect I think he did a good job.

He also takes the opportunity to unapologetically wax patriotic. He is unflinching in his thoughts that the US and MacArthur are always doing right, a tone which sometimes was too strong for me to take seriously. At one point he claims that the best thing for the Philippines after the war would have been to make it "the 49th state,"(this was before Hawaii and Alaska were admitted) presumably because America was and is the best thing going anywhere.

In short, this book is not one of men in battle and the hardships they undergo. It is one man's first person view of a seemingly ongoing argument about this particular bit of history, as well as providing a wealth of general background on the subject. I suspect that there are other, better books to buy on all these categories, and would recommend this book only to those who are deeply interested and want to read everything they can find on it.

A Very Competent Account by a Competent Man
This book is one of those excellent works by the University Press of Kentucky. They publish a great number of WW II personal narratives concerning the more obscure activities and less known theatres. I recall one written by a bandsman, the only one such I ever saw.
This review is based on the 1988 Pocket Book newstand edition of the 1986 hardback original.
The book is well written, quite thorough, and extensively sourced and noted, in contrast to many such works in which all that is set down about the author is in the blurb on the cover. There is also a handy map of Central Luzon printed on the inside back cover, a really great idea so that one can easily find it. Why don't other publishers do that? There is also a very useful index which covers not just personal names, as do so many, but has also subject listings to various topics.
As contrasted to the original book published during WW II, with the title "American Guerilla in the Phillipines", this one does not whitewash the dirty and brutal aspects of the war and its aftermath. All in all, a very interesting and well written work which deserves a place on the shelves of Spec Ops, "grunt" history, and personal narrative collections.

A riveting account of courage and sacrifice
The Philippines' role as a major battleground in World War II must not be forgotten. Thus, Ray Hunt and Bernard Norling provide an important service in "Behind Japanese Lines: An American Guerrilla in the Philippines." The story of American servicemen fighting as guerillas during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines is an amazing one. Hunt's personal experience is just one of many such riveting experiences.

"Behind Japanese Lines" provides the reader with a vivid portrayal of Mr. Hunt's three-year ordeal as a guerilla on the island of Luzon, an ordeal he did not expect to survive. It also contains detailed analysis of the history of the Philippines and its complex relationship with the United States. The only drawback is that Mr. Hunt's narrative is abruptly and inconveniently interrupted by such analysis, presumably by Mr. Norling.

Importantly, Mr. Hunt gives much regard to the Filipino people, who suffered so much during the war. With their help and sacrifice, he was able to stay alive and fight to help liberate the Philippines. Very few other people of any nation gave so much in fighting for freedom during the war.

Also, Mr. Hunt is honest in his account of guerilla life. It was anything but easy, as rival guerilla gangs fought each other almost as often as they fought the Japanese. Even American guerillas fell under the spell of a near-anarchy situation and over-stepped their bounds. But such were the circumstances, and guerillas did what they could to survive. In any event, Japan's conduct in the Philippines was far worse than that of the guerillas.

All in all, the book is a good read and contributes much in the way of the history of the Philippines in World War II. Another similar book worth reading is "Lieutenant Ramsey's War: From Horse Soldier to Guerrilla Commander," by Edwin P. Ramsey and Stephen J. Rivele.

Behind Japanese Lines.
I would like to say that this book is great for me since the two Guerrillas in the book named William and Joseph Henry are my Grandfather and Uncle. Their father was Irish and their mother was Filipina. My Great Grandfather was killed by the Japanese and they took revenge. They are still alive and had some stories to tell! I would recommend this to anyone since I know first hand that this was a really good history lesson. To all the others who have been in the war, I give my respect and love. God bless you all!

A terrific eye-witness narrative of combat operations.
Behind Japanese Lines: An American Guerrilla In The Phillippines is the story of Ray Hunt, an American soldier who escaped the Bataan Death March and organized a troop of American and Filipino guerrillas. Hunt tells his own vivid and harrowing tale of life as a guerrilla behind Japanese lines, the struggle to survive and harass the Japanese, even the lingering fear among his troops that, because they had not followed orders to surrender to the Japanese when their units in Phillippines surrendered to the Japanese, they would be court martialled for desertion if the Americans won the war. Hunt also argues against the lack of American thanks or compensation to the insurgent Filipinos after the war. Behind Japanese Lines is an exceptionally well written, eye-witness narrative that is a much appreciated and welcome contribution to the growing library of World War II literature regarding combat operations in the Pacific Theater. ... Read more

Book Description

Winner of the 1991 PEN/Jerard Fund Award, Talking to High Monks in the Snow captures the passion and intensity of an Asian-American woman's search for cultural identity. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not her best
I would suggest that you read this only after reading The Strangeness of Beauty, which is a wonderfully written novel.

Grateful to Ms. Minatoya for sharing....Engrossing..........
I was reading "Growing Up Asian American" and had it for over a year. Recently I have been wanting to hear more from other Asian Americans and so, resumed reading the excerpts authors shared. I read Ms. Minatoya's story and was disappointed that there wasn't more! So the next day I went and bought Talking to High Monks in the Snow. And I have just finished reading it. It's one of those books that I come across infrequently, the kind that I absolutely MUST get to the last page before I go to sleep. Because of school I longed for the moments when I could sit and enjoy my newfound treasure, on trains, breaks, at home. Ms. Minatoya is subtle in her writing but it sure hits you when you're through with the sentence. I felt the pangs of pain and embarassment and degradation when she did. It brought back sad memories. The great thing though is that she isn't sappy and she doesn't want my pity just because I relate to her. Ms. Minatoya is eloquently matter-of-fact. With each section of her book, I was amazed more and more. I wished I went to all the places she has been to, Boston, Japan, China, Nepal, and done the things she has. Actually, I admire her because she was and probably still is BOLD and DETERMINED. She has gone to all these countries and actually lived and worked there, not just visit as a tourist. She has taught and communicated deeply with people in these countries. Thanks to Ms. Minatoya, I have this urge to start a club at my college. A reading and discussional group for Asian Americans and non-Asians. I feel that many in my school and city do not appreciate our rich heritage as much as I wish they did. A club that will teach and show through discussions, reading, and debate, the sincere, talented, proud people such as Ms. Minatoya. Talking to High Monks in the Snow is a truly wonderful book for Asians and non-Asians alike. Before I read it for the second time...Thanks Amazon for letting me share my thoughts!

Debbie Yeung ... Read more

Book Description

This work on Hiratsuka Raichÿ at last fully assesses her key role in the history of the Japanese women's movement. It provides a full and contextual analysis of the life (1886-1971) and work of this leading Japanese feminist, all in the light of the changes affecting women in Japan. At the same time the author compares her working with similar historical shifts and movements in western countries, notably Great Britain and the United States. International comparisons at the level of personal biography and associated ideas are made, to see the influence of Western feminists on Hiratsuka's feminism. Hiratsuka is compared with other Japanese feminists, whereby her pivotal role in the history of the Japanese women's movement becomes clear. With extensive footnotes for further reference - and research -, a number of appendices, a detailed bilingual glossary and bibliography; a true reference on an important subject. ... Read more