Title: World War II from a Japanese View: The Middle Way, a Spiritual Journey to Pure Land Light
Author: Mimi Sun
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 979-8823060127
Pages: 312
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewer: Tony Espinoza
Pacific Book Review
When it comes to war, people often focus on its impacts on society, the economy, and a person’s mental state. Whether it is the soldiers on the front lines or the innocent civilians caught in the midst of war, trauma and tragedy often can impact a person emotionally and mentally, but one aspect that is not often discussed is the ways in which war transforms an entire civilization’s spiritual and cultural footprint in the world. Truly traumatic events of war can skew entire belief systems overnight, leaving ancient traditions and beliefs in the past for good or for bad.
In author Mimi Sun’s World War II from a Japanese View: The Middle Way, a Spiritual Journey to Pure Land Light, the author explores Japan’s history and mythology through the lens of post-World WarII life. At its heart, the book is a unique love story about a woman named Kie, who dreams of bringing peace to a land of chaos and violence and furthering her own education, and finds herself enamored when she meets Hiroshi, a fighter and warrior who, after the events of the war, must learn to find calm, serenity, and peace within himself. Set against the backdrop of WWII and drawing on Japanese mythology, Shinto and Buddhist belief systems, and Zen philosophy, the story explores how people recover from violence and unrest on such a global scale and regain a sense of peace and balance in their lives.
The author’s rich world-building and character development are at the heart of the story. The author does a great job of laying the foundation of both the history and culture this book represents right from the start, going into the evolution of the Shinto belief system as it began and as it transformed during the ultrapatriotic evolution Japan’s military undertook in more recent centuries, the rise of the Yamato clan in the 6th century and the emperor’s connection to the Sun Goddess, as well as how the 6th century implemented the belief systems Confucianism and Buddhism from China into the Shinto belief system. This added a deeper cultural understanding of how these characters connected with one another and allowed their more emotional and spiritual experiences to impact the reader as the story progressed.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction, especially WWII and Japanese history, culture, mythology/belief systems, and how they shape a historical setting, will absolutely fall in love with this story. The book also highlights the struggles many women faced in this culture to find their voice and autonomy through Kie’s challenges, and getting multiple perspectives from these characters allows readers to feel their journey together and see how the balance of fighting for what’s right while also respecting inner peace and tranquility plays a role in a more balanced life.
