The Burdens of Survival: Ooka Shohei's Writings on the Pacific War 9780824844202
Although still virtually unknown in the West, Ôoka Shôhei (1909-1988) is one of Japan's most important and influent
118 13 22MB
English Pages 384 Year 2023
CONTENTS
Maps
Introduction
CHAPTER ONE Memoirs of a Burdened Survivor
CHAPTER TWO Fires on the Plain
CHAPTER THREE Lady Musashino and In the Shadow of Cherry Blossoms
CHAPTER FOUR The Battle tor Leyte Island
Conclusion LINGERING OBLIGATIONS
APPENDIX: SELECTED WORKS BY ŌOKA SHŌHEI
NOTES
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
Recommend Papers
- Author / Uploaded
- David C. Stahl
File loading please wait...
Citation preview
THE BURDENS OF SURVIVAL
D A V I D
C.
S T A H L
THE BURDENS
OOKA SHOHEI'S WRITINGS ON T H E PACIFIC WAR
U N I V E R S I T Y OF HAWAI'I PRESS HONOLULU
© 2003 University of Hawai'i Press All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America 08 07 06 05 04 03 654321
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Stahl, David C. The burdens of survival: Ooka Shohei's writings on the Pacific war / David C. Stahl. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8248-2540-3 (cloth: alk. paper) 1. Ooka, Shohei, 1909—Criticism and interpretation. 2. World War, 1939-1945—Literature and the war. I. Title. PL835.05 Z88 2003
895.6'35—dc21
2002012309
Cartography by Bradley Corr University of Hawai'i Press books are printed on acid-free paper and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Council on Library Resources. Designed by Trina Stahl Printed by The Maple-Vail Book Manufacturing Group
"Our memory repeats to us what we haven't yet come to terms with, what still haunts us." K A I ERIKSON
"Man is the being who is capable of becoming guilty and is capable of illuminating his guilt." MARTIN
BUBER
"Without a working-through of guilt, however belated, there [can] be no work of mourning." ALEXANDER AND MARGARETE
MITSCHERLICH
"And it's carrying through that responsibility [to the dead] via one's witness, that survivor mission, that enables one to be an integrated human being once more." ROBERT JAY LIFTON
CONTENTS
MAPS
viii
•
INTRODUCTION
•
1
1. Memoirs of a Burdened Survivor . 14 2.
Fires on the Plain
3.
Lady Musashino and In the Shadow of
• 96
Cherry Blossoms • 146 4.
The Battle for Leyte Island • 211
CONCLUSION: Lingering Obligations • 320 A P P E N D I X : S E L E C T E D W O R K S BY Ò O K A S H O H E I NOTES
•
•
ÒLI
337
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
•
•
363
367
vii
200
KBwnBisrs
LUZON SWM •miL-iPTi^t çmm slä Manila-
MINDORO
¿¡button
SAMAR
PA NAY PALAWAN NEGROS
BOHOL
r
msmmm MINDANAO
NORTH BORNEO
WUÊQtss&i
Map 1. The Philippines
Luzon
Lubsng (stands
TaHpm»n Point
Lumangbayan
'Cala pan
CfKiwTe Tvbit* Poks
Lake . Naui&n
Santa Cruz
Pmamalayan MINDORO
Bongabong Dongtm flbtel
Paglasan
ICaMunl
8atugo( HjgMay