Requiem for Battleship Yamato - WWII Japanese Navy History Book | Bluejacket Books Series | Perfect for Military Historians & Naval Enthusiasts

Requeim fo Battleship Yamato is an exceptional book describing not just the last battle of the ship, but the feelings and emotions of the crew who manned her in this battle.This book was written and published in Japan and then suppressed by US occupation censurship policies. I, for one, can't see what the rationale for suppression was, having read the book several times.What I find must interesting is the author's description of the men he served with and the men he led. He was reproved by a superior officer for NOT striking a Sailor for an infraction of discipline. His description of the role of the executive officer is also enlightening - he was a "designated" survivor to report back about the mission. The description of a Nisei who was in the same stateroom as the author is quite moving. I for one, had never known or considered that there were Nisei in Japan at the time the war started and how they were treated by their fellow countrymen. If for no other reason than this last, I am glad I read the book.I first wrote this review in 2001. In 2006 I was able to visit the Battleship Yamato Museum in Kure. Having read the book several times before it was amazing to see the film of the minisub examining the remains of YAMATO. There are artifacts from the debris field on display. It would be nice if the book were available in English and Japanese at the museum. All visitors would find it useful. After visiting the muuseum, I did some further research on the US aspect of the YAMATO engagement. I learned that my mother`s second husband was in the crew of one of the submarines that detected YAMATO as she headed towards Okinawa. It was by the submarine reports that the carriers could get aircraft into the air and engage YAMATO. I thus have another reason for finding this book so engrossing and valuable.this is a fine book for all students of naval history. It is also an excellent piece of literature. I recommend it to all.