Oba, the Last Samurai: Saipan 1944-45 (Hardcover)

by Don Jones (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
In July 1944, after 28 days of bloody battle, the island of Saipan was declared secured. All Japanese troops were assumed dead and all resistance ended. As in most Pacific battles, a number of enemy troops escaped to hide in the hills and jungle. Captain Sakae Oba, one of the Japanese soldiers on Saipan, a former high school geography teacher, organized a party of some 300 soldiers and civilians. He fed, clothed, and sheltered them in jungle villages and caves. Oba carried on a guerrilla campaign against the American garrison and refused to surrender until he personally received instructions from the Imperial General Staff. One criticism: Jones tells nothing of Oba's life in postwar Japan. His readers will regret not knowing what became of this tenacious officer. Essential for all World War II collections. Stanley Itkin, Hillside P.L., New Hyde Park, N.Y.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 241 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Pr; 1st, No Additional Printing Listed edition (June 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089141245X
• ISBN-13: 978-0891412458
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #290,110 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good history account of the battle for Saipan, May 20, 2004

By	Musashi Miyamoto (The Hidden Sword Village of the Iron Sand Country) - See all my reviews

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.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful look into the mind of a Japanese soldier, September 28, 1997

By A Customer

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.