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The first-person story of Japan's greatest flying ace in World War II. Explosive action! Excruciatingly painful wounds, and the stubborn pride of a man who refuses to be defeated.

One thing that makes this book fun is that if you have a lot of romantic illusions about Japan or the samurai class this book will cure them. Not that Saburo Sakai isn't a class act, and a gentleman, but that he grew up very poor in spite of his "samurai" ancestry. I mean like on the farm, dirt poor. It's also interesting that though he's a tough guy and a born fighter there's nothing "macho" about his outlook. Indeed, he makes it clear his role model for enduring agony is his mother. Last of all, the love story he tells about meeting his wife and surviving the last desperate weeks of the war is truly inspiring.

This is a great book for anyone who likes World War II, flying aces, history, and Japanese culture.