あらすじ
[About the Book]
This nonfiction work collects the letters written by a Japanese man who was killed in action on Iwo Jima during World War II, along with his son’s record of recovering his remains.
In his letters, he wrote sentiments familiar to any family-“Take good care of your grandmother,” “Study hard,” “Keep the family grave clean.” What emerges from these messages is not the image of a soldier, but that of an ordinary father worried about his family.
After the war, the author traveled to Iwo Jima, the place where his father took his last breath, and joined an operation to recover remains. Bones and unexploded ordnance unearthed from the ground, the barren and desolate landscape-what thoughts arose in the author as he confronted these scenes?
This book is intended for:
・those who wish to learn about the history of World War II and the Pacific War
・those interested in the memories of war and family
・those who hope to pass on messages of peace and anti-war sentiment to the next generation
[Author’s Brief Biography]
Seiichi Sutou
Born in 1937 in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture.
After graduating from high school and working as a company employee, he
opened the Sutou Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant Office in
2001 (Heisei 13).
Since September 1997 (Heisei 9), he has participated in the recovery of
wartime remains on Iwo Jima.
In October 2007, he self-published a collection of letters entitled Messages
from Father on the Battlefield.
Contributor to the haiku journal Shiro. Pen name: 北雨 (Hokuu) .
This digital edition is an appropriately revised and supplemented version
based on Letters from Father on Iwo Jima (2020), published by Tentensha.
