The Breaking Jewel

Book excerpt: A rare look at the Japanese experience of World War II by a Japanese novelist and peace activist, The Breaking Jewel is set on an island in the South Pacific during the final days of World War II, when the tide has turned against Japan. The novel opens with the preparations of a small force of Japanese soldiers to defend a tiny and ultimately insignificant island from a full-scale assault by American forces. The narrative closely follows the character of squad leader Nakamura, the sole Japanese survivor of the battle.