One Man’s Justice
One Man’s Justice by Akira Yoshimura, published by Canongate in 2004, is a historical fiction novel that explores the aftermath of World War II in Japan. The story follows Takuya, a demobilized officer who returns to his village only to discover that the Occupation authorities are intensifying their efforts to apprehend suspected war criminals. As Takuya grapples with his past involvement in the execution of American prisoners, he becomes a fugitive in his own country, navigating a landscape marked by defeat and desperation.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into themes of guilt, duty, and the complexities of justice in a post-war society. As Takuya travels through a nation grappling with humiliation and hunger, he reflects on his actions and the moral ambiguities of following orders. This edition spans 282 pages and is presented in English, offering a poignant examination of personal and collective responsibility in the wake of conflict.
Official synopsis Publisher
Japan is in ruins after the second World War. Takuya, a demobilized officer returns to his native village only to learn that the Occupation authorities are intensifying their efforts to apprehend suspected war criminals. Will they learn of his involvement in the execution of American prisoners during the last days of the war? To avoid prosecution, Takuya becomes a fugitive in his own country. As he travels on crowded trains through a land of defeat, humiliation, and hunger, he fears that his past will catch up with him. And yet Takuya doesn’t feel like a criminal. After all, he had only been following orders. Why should an honest and dutiful man be prosecuted by the very people who dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, slaughtering countless innocent civilians?
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