Customer Reviews

Oba, the Last Samurai: Saipan 1944-45

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Overall, this is a good book. It starts out with Oba and many men from his town being shipped off to war. It pretty much ends at his surrender.
Oba: The Last Samurai is a good book because it goes into detail and tells about many factors. It also tells about seemingly insignificant human reactions rarely touched upon in historical accounts, such as Sakae Oba's emotions and what he felt during the whole time he lived in the hills. However, I agree with the professional review. It ends too soon and abruptly. It leaves readers wanting to know what happened to him after the war. Personally, I believe that more information on the individuals involved in this whole battle would be welcome, as well, such as some background on Horiuchi, some of the Americans, and others, but that's just me.

An insightful look into the mind of a Japanese soldier. Oba and 300 others eluded capture for over a year on the small island of Saipan occupied by the Americans. The book touches on the many levels and degrees of victory. Both, on a personal, human level and on a militaristic level.

this is a great book to see the war from the Japanese side as few survived and fewer wrote about it this is a must read if you want to understand the combat in the islands.

I could not put this book down. It is historically accurate regarding the exploits of a Japanese soldier who could never be captured by the Americans on Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands) after WW II. He was a hero, brilliant strategist and proud soldier. Excellent and easy read. Highly recommended.