Buy new:
-17% $35.49
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: ABC Literature LLC
$35.49 with 17 percent savings
List Price: $43.00

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16. Order within 16 hrs 39 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$35.49 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$35.49
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$10.67
May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less See less
FREE delivery May 17 - 20. Details
Or fastest delivery May 13 - 15. Details
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$35.49 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$35.49
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by ThriftBooks-Seattle.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Kamikaze: Japan's Suicide Gods 1st Edition

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 3 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$35.49","priceAmount":35.49,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"35","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"49","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2F30n31z2AM%2F7ALsBgAzU6smFYUNP%2FOelEbYDQpjgyEuZ8nasCkZSBPC%2BFmSKU5wEoGPx3epnNzcS8UBXQd%2FA7rOfhAQPVkWiF75jbnUDqby5t8GOys7OLLvPpHRZurnVD1EEHjtWD%2BysIjMv7r13I7o1DSApFsYzt%2B6qSu%2F4dh7fgcGHKe9eny7aTERgHUrC","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$10.67","priceAmount":10.67,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"67","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2F30n31z2AM%2F7ALsBgAzU6smFYUNP%2FOelcCc0jpYvlpPvcBJAi19A8J9oj7M3A9QquN4Wb1kYn4OXxgMIO7aqf1sblzHTjlKMSfY5IjAN7epICxAWvP6kl94jSnx4zMs%2Fp4%2BP6N1LxfMXsr2%2F5ltVyHbw%2FUWuT8nZOnpqhM5btHwP%2BdJZWNyhtA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The use of the Japanese Kamikaze pilots during the second world war was one of the most dramatic and chilling developments of the war. But who were the Kamikaze pilots and what motivated them to make the ultimate sacrifice?

The call for Kamikaze pilots drew a staggering response. Three times as many applied for suicide flights as the number of planes available. The authors of Kamikaze: Japan¿s Suicide Gods look into the hearts and minds of the Kamikaze pilots, viewed in the full context of the war and the Japanese cultures and traditions out of which the Kamikaze emerged. Based on interviews with Kamikaze survivors, unpublished memoirs, and documents not previously open to the public, the book portrays one of the most extraordinary and astonishing events in history, an event that has made Kamikaze a household word around the world.

Read more Read less

Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Editorial Reviews

Review




Original, astonishing, riveting - this stunning book is a warning to today's world. The authors trace the direct line between the Kamikaze and the Al-Qaeda fighters. Both engaged in suicide missions and reaped their rewards in the next world. The Kamikaze became gods and the Al-Qaeda warriors entered paradise. Base on new sources, this is a chilling story masterfully told.' –
Martin McCauley, formerly Professor of Politics, University of London




'Fascinating...poignant, horrifying, sad, and heart wrenching. This book is not only about the Kamikaze but about Japanese conceptions of loyalty, duty, sacrifice and death.' –
Gerald L. Curtis, Professor of Politics, Columbia University




'This well written and meticulously researched book...evokes haunting memories of the tragic last days of the war and offers provocative insights into the problems of terrorism today' –
Admiral James A. Lyons (ret.), former Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet




'Whatever one may think of the ruthless militarists who ordered them into battle, the tragic fate of the young Tokkotai suicide pilots - many of them among Japan's "best and brightest" - deserves both pity and respect. The authors have presented a fascinating portrait of who these young pilots were and why they willingly went to their deaths in the service of Emperor Hirohito, near the close of a war which was long past winning' –
Frank Gibney, US lecturer and Japan expert, author of Japan




'Not being an admirer of zealotry, I find it hard to think of the Kamikaze as anything other than misguided young men. This does not mean that their story is not remarkable. Here it is told with skill and vigor. I could not tell it as well myself.' –
Edward Seidensticker, Japan expert and translator of The Tale of Genji


From the Back Cover

¿Original, astonishing, riveting ¿ this stunning book is a warning to today¿s world. The authors trace the direct line between the Kamikaze and the Al-Qaeda fighters. Both engaged in suicide missions and reaped their rewards in the next world. The Kamikaze became gods and the Al-Qaeda warriors entered paradise. Based on new sources, this is a chilling story masterfully told.¿ Martin McCauley, formerly Professor of Politics, University of London

¿Fascinating¿poignant, horrifying, sad, and heart wrenching. This book is not only about the Kamikaze but about Japanese conceptions of loyalty, duty, sacrifice and death.¿ Gerald L. Curtis, Professor of Politics, Columbia University

¿This well written and meticulously researched book¿.evokes haunting memories of the tragic last days of the war and offers provocative insights into the problems of terrorism today¿ Admiral James A. Lyons (ret.), former Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet

¿Whatever one may think of the ruthless militarists who ordered them into battle, the tragic fate of the young Tokkotai suicide pilots ¿ many of them among Japan¿s "best and brightest" ¿ deserves both pity and respect. The authors have presented a fascinating portrait of who these young pilots were and why they willingly went to their deaths in the service of Emperor Hirohito, near the close of a war which was long past winning¿ Frank Gibney, US lecturer and Japan expert, author of Japan

¿Not being an admirer of zealotry, I find it hard to think of the Kamikaze as anything other than misguided young men. This does not mean that their story is not remarkable. Here it is told with skill and vigor. I could not tell it as well myself.¿ Edward Seidensticker, Japan expert and translator of The Tale of Genji

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pearson; 1st edition (October 25, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 058277232X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0582772328
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1 x 9.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 3 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Albert Axell
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
3 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2007
The co-author of this book, Mr. Hideaki Kase, is a right-wing Japanese revisionist who openly glorifies Japan's war crime during WWII and calls the horrific Nanking Massacre a fabrication. He also calls the "Comfort Women", women who were captured by the Japanese during WWII and were forced to be sex slaves for the Japanese Army, prostitutes. Not only Mr. Kase has little credibility in reviewing Japan's role during WWII, but also he is one of voice for the Nazi Japan.
6 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2002
This is the best study of the Japanese suicide pilots that I have read. With his Japanese co-author, Mr. Axell (who taught for a time in Japan) is able to get at Japanese-language sources and oral histories that have mostly been ignored by western scholars. This can be spellbinding stuff.
Unfortunately, the Japanese orientation leads them into many niggling errors that leap off the page to a western reader versed in military aviation. There's also a pro-Japanese bias in their presentation of material, especially when they strain to find parallels to the kamikaze in western air forces.
Excerpts from a kamikaze how-to manual are a chilling reminder to anyone who remembers the similar document carried by the al Qaeda suicide pilots of September 11, 2001.
Very much worth the reading, but take it with a grain of salt.
18 people found this helpful
Report

Top reviews from other countries

Ms. H. S. Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars JAPAN'S SUICIDE GODS
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2024
FASCINATING STORY OF A SUIIICE GOD I THINK ANY ONE INTEERESTED IN JAPAN MUST READ IT