**IndependentPublisherBookAward(IPPY)Winner**Anincredible,untoldstoryofsurvivalandacceptancethatshedslightononeofthedarkestchaptersinJapanesehistory.ThisbooktellsthestoryofKazuoOdachiwho--in1943,whenhewasjust16years-old--joinedtheImperialJapaneseNavytobecomeapilot.Ayearlater,hewasunknowinglyassignedtotheKamikazeSpecialAttackCorps--agroupofairmenwhosemissionwastosacrificetheirlivesbycrashingplanesintoenemyships.Theircallsignwas“tendead,zeroalive.“BypickingupMemoirsofaKamikaze,readerswillexperiencethehardshipsoffighterpilottraining--dippinganddivingandwatchingasothertraineescrashintonearbymountainsides.They’llwitnessthepsychologicaltraumaofcomingtotermswithdeathbeforeeachmission,andbreatheasighofreliefwithOdachiwhenhislastmissioniscutshortbyJapan’seventualsurrender.They’llfeeltheangeratagovernmentandsocietythatsweptsomuchofthesacrificeundertheruginitsdesperationtorebuild.Odachi’sinnate“samuraispirit“carriedhimthroughchildhood,WWIIandhiseventuallifeasakendoinstructor,policeofficeranddetective.Hisattentiontodetail,unwaveringself-disciplineandimpenetrablystrongmindwereoftenthedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath.Odachi,whoisnowwellintohisnineties,kepthisKamikazepastasecretformostofhislife.Sevendecadeslater,heagreedtositfornearlyseventyhoursofinterviewswiththeauthorsofthisbook--whoknowOdachipersonally.HefeltitwashisresponsibilitytofinallyrevealthetruthabouttheKamikazepilots:thattheywereunsuspectingteenagersandyoungmenaskedtodothebiddingofsuperiorofficerswhowereneverheldtoaccount.Thisbookoffersanewperspectiveontheseinfamoussuicidepilots.Itisnotachronicleofwar,norisitacollectionofresearchpaperscompiledbyscholars.ItisatranscriptofOdachi’swords.
