Ichiro's Odyssey by George J. Thomas

Ichiro’s Odyssey is a historical novel by George J. Thomas

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Japan 1933 – The echoes of the distant war in Manchuria hardly disturb 13-year-old Ichiro’s relaxed life in Kyoto, but following an under-age love affair, he is sent to a Zen Buddhist monastery. With the outbreak of war with China, he is seized from the monastery and conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army. The saga of his war experiences in the subjugated countries of Asia changes him completely and culminates in his repatriation to his devastated homeland.
Set against the historical events of the Asia-Pacific war, the drama unfolds from the perspective of a young man caught up in the militarist ambitions of 20th century Japan.

A Word from the Author

My interest in Japan goes back many years and was stimulated by an unforgettable journey I made to that country, as the guest of a major Japanese corporation. I was fascinated by the harmonious juxtaposition of centuries-old traditions with twentieth-century technology. Over the years, I developed a keen interest in Japanese culture: bonsais, ikebana, traditional painting and calligraphy, netsuke, haiku – eventually becoming reasonably proficient in some of these arts.
Against this background, I decided to embark on a literary expedition, taking the theme of Japan in the 1930’s and the tragedy of the Pacific War. The majority of my characters are fictitious but frequently set against actual historical events. I wished to contrast an ancient culture and its deep love of the natural world with the barbaric cruelty of war.