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Samurai! The Autobiography of Japan's Bravest Fighter Ace
by
Saburo Sakai
,
Martin Caidin
,
Fred Saito
THE GRIPPING SAGA OF THE RISE AND FALL OF THE JAPANESE NAVAL AIR FORCE IN WORLD WAR II THROUGH THE CAREER OF ONE OF ITS BEST FIGHTER ACES
Written by Martin Caidin from Saburo Sakai's own memoirs and journalist Fred Saito's extensive interviews with the World War II fighter pilot, Samurai! vividly documents the chivalry and valor of the combat aviator who time after time
...more
Published
(first published 1957)
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Community Reviews
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1,152)
There's a lot of air battles in this. And not much of anything else. I liked Saburo's honesty. There's a story where he and an allied pilot are locked in an exhausting dogfight. Eventually Saburo gets a couple of shots at the cockpit, glass shatters! He pulls up alongside and the badly wounded allied pilot raises his arm in a sort of salute. Saburo salutes back, two warriors reaching out across the sky ... before he falls behind to shoot the crippled plane out of the sky. Oh. Did he mean to tell
...more
For someone who is perpetually intrigued by the combat that took place in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, it was very interesting to read a book from the perspective of a Japanese fighter ace. I had previously read "Oba: The Last Samurai," but this was an entirely different reading experience for some reason. Overall, Saburo Sakai's story is a gripping one. He experienced some of the most intense aerial combat of the entire war, from his early days flying in China to the h
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This is the autobiography of Japan's greatest ace pilot to survive WWII. Saburo Sakai became a hero in his homeland and his account of his place in the Pacific War is even-handed and illuminating. In the early days of the war, victory seems to come relatively easy to him and the other pilots in his fighter group due to their superior training and the excellence of the Mitsubishi Zero fighter. As the war wears on, however, and the United States becomes more fully engaged on its Western front, the
...more
A very interesting biography of a WWII Japanese fighter pilot and his experiences during the war. He was one of Japan's leading aces.
At the outset of the war, the Japanese flew the Zero, a fighter that was superior to US fighters, and Sakai downed many US fighters. Later, as the US introduced superior plans, the Japanese new, faster planes came too late.
Sakai's heroism and dedication are impressive. Reading this book, I'm impressed that there are skilled, principled, heroic fighters on both side ...more
At the outset of the war, the Japanese flew the Zero, a fighter that was superior to US fighters, and Sakai downed many US fighters. Later, as the US introduced superior plans, the Japanese new, faster planes came too late.
Sakai's heroism and dedication are impressive. Reading this book, I'm impressed that there are skilled, principled, heroic fighters on both side ...more
This was always one of my favorite books as a younger reader. I finally met and came to know Saburo Sakai, and he was one of the most entertaining interviews I ever conducted and published. This book is 100% true, no embellishment, and if you want to see the mind of a young man who became a national hero, in a war he hated, read this book.
May 05, 2015
Richard Norman
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Aneyone
For a history buff this book is a must read. Just with in the first few pages you understand the military training that made the Japanese soldier into the type of fighting man he was. The honor code, the beatings until they passed out, and the control of their superiors had made them mindless in the attack, observing every command with exactness.
But this is a side note as to the fighter pilot Saburo Sakai who had downed 64 U.S. airplanes and was the top ace for Japan in WWII. The book is a compi ...more
But this is a side note as to the fighter pilot Saburo Sakai who had downed 64 U.S. airplanes and was the top ace for Japan in WWII. The book is a compi ...more
This is the autobiography of Japan's greatest ace pilot to survive WWII. Saburo Sakai became a hero in his homeland and his account of his place in the Pacific War is even-handed and illuminating. In the early days of the war, victory seems to come relatively easy to him and the other pilots in his fighter group due to their superior training and the excellence of the Mitsubishi Zero fighter. As the war wears on, however, and the United States becomes more fully engaged on its Western front, the
...more
Sep 19, 2012
Jonathan Gillespie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
military-history
Piloting a
Mitsubishi A6M "Zero"
was hair-raising enough, with its notorious lack of armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, but flying one while bleeding to death, down one eye, and fading in and out of consciousness is the kind of experience
Saburo Sakai
, legendary Japanese fighter ace, places the reader in through his autobiography and memoir,
Samurai!
(with additional credit to Martin Caidin and Fred Saito), first published way back in 1957.
World War II is one of those conflicts shrouded in rev ...more
World War II is one of those conflicts shrouded in rev ...more
Great semi-auto-biography of WWII Japanese fighter ace Saburo Sakai. Caidin's best. It's written as Saburo Sakai's auto-biography but Caiden adds quite a bit in a subtle manner so you get the impression it's all Sakai. There are times when Sakai's claims and memory seem suspect, just a little too detailed, but when you consider it is written from his perspective only, filtered through an interpreter, Fred Saito, and then written by a talented writer with extensive historical aviation knowledge,
...more
I read alot of these books. When I was in High School at Sebeka, MN and when I was in the Army. Especially my 1st Tour as a MP in Muenster by Dieberg, Aschafflengberg Darmstadt area.
Trying to find and catalog the books I have read in the past.
Many I need to re-read again.
Trying to find and catalog the books I have read in the past.
Many I need to re-read again.
Saburo Sakai was one of the few Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) aces to survive the war. He considered his greatest triumph was not scoring over 60 kills but never having lost a wing man in some 200+ dogfights - no mean achievement!
Martin Caidin had already established his reputation as an aviation historian by the time he wrote this book. He could easily have chosen some other aviation topic to write about. Instead, he preferred to tell the tale of a former enemy pilot. In doing so, he has made a ...more
Martin Caidin had already established his reputation as an aviation historian by the time he wrote this book. He could easily have chosen some other aviation topic to write about. Instead, he preferred to tell the tale of a former enemy pilot. In doing so, he has made a ...more
An incredible book. Saburo Sakai (and his co-author Martin Caidin) paint a vivid and enthralling picture of the Japanese side of World War II. One feels both the deep dedication of Sakai to the Samurai spirit and to his sense of duty, as well as his keen awareness of the folly of the war. After reading this book, I felt more like Sakai was that vet living down the street who had shared some of his experiences with me, someone I had known and who had died, not a remote and indistinct figure I had
...more
Very well written and engaging text that immerses the reader in the perspective of one of WWII Japan's leading ace pilots, Saburo Sakai. Unlike many similar books, it isn't solid statistics and battles and reads as very genuine. Personally, I enjoyed Sakai's insight on 'kamikaze' pilots and think that every WWII buff should be obligated to read texts that humanize foreign soldiers and their struggles- a very important part of the WWII narrative.
This was super interesting seeing WWII from the Japanese perspective and has piqued my interest in the rest of the war that we were not taught about during class. This is also a great book for the bus because for the most part its easy to pick up and put down. Overall homygodawesome! Loved it! You should give it a shot even if you are typically not into the historical stuff :D Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did!
This is an amazing story written by a legendary Japanese fighter pilot about his experiences during world war II. It was near impossible for me to put this book down. Saburo's accounts of his personal experiences are so riveting and candid. The book was originally published in 1957 and was one of the first accounts of WWII from a Japanese pilot. An amazing piece of history.
There's something just undeniably engrossing about the story, and it's refreshing to here the story of the Second World War from the other side. What makes the story all the more mind boggling is that it's true, from Saburo surviving a bullet to the head in 1942 to dogfighting 16 planes at once and living to tell the tale.
Feb 19, 2014
Joshua Bogen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biography-read
,
history-read
It was very interesting to read a story from the perspective of the "other side" in WWII. In Japan, a movie was also made of this book, which was good too.
One of the best book received from father, describes clearly about world conflagration and role of fighter planes during WW2.
A look at the training and war time experience of the leading "Living" Japanese ace. Incredible story.
Nov 17, 2012
Allan Harle
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
military-history
Without a doubt my favourite book about aviation in WW2.
Very epic story, one of the best books I've Ever red
Jan 19, 2014
Kym Andrew Robinson
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
aviation
'Samurai' is a biographical story of Saburo Sakai, one of Japan's leading fighter aces who served for the Imperial Naval Air Force during the second World war.
It is a book which depicts the culture and day to day of war time navy service under the Emperor, the book has some interesting and fun anecdotes and tells a perspective of war one seldom experiences, that from 'the other side'.
I found this book to be a pretty quick read and while it was entertaining and very interesting it was thin in par ...more
It is a book which depicts the culture and day to day of war time navy service under the Emperor, the book has some interesting and fun anecdotes and tells a perspective of war one seldom experiences, that from 'the other side'.
I found this book to be a pretty quick read and while it was entertaining and very interesting it was thin in par ...more
This book is one of the finest war accounts given by a WW2 pilot. Sabuko Sakai explains how he achieved success in the Japanese Imperial Navy, from his humble beginnings to his final promotion to officer. In the process, he relates very vividly the most incredible and amazing air to air battles he and his comrades had to engage. The descriptions are so good you'll have the impression of being inside the cockpit yourself.
Probably the key moment of this book is when Sakai talks about the moment he ...more
Probably the key moment of this book is when Sakai talks about the moment he ...more
A couple of months ago a friend handed me a magazine with an article about modern fighter pilots. In it was a reference to a book called, SAMURAI! by Saburo Sakai about the experiences of one of the very few surviving Japanese fighter aces of WW2. Curiosity got to me and (by luck) I found an original edition in a local bookstore (
Powell's City of Books
). A fascinating read. Don't usually read war aviation books, but this one was very good. From the perspective of the Japanese, I thought it was a
...more
Partly ghost-written memoir of a Japanese WWII fighter ace, covering two major periods of time - the first months of the war when Japan could do no wrong and the latter part of things when it was getting continually pounded. It is unfortunate that he was wounded and in recovery for the interesting period in the middle, but never mind. Sakai seems to have been an interesting character, and in many cases the memoir jerks wildly between his boasting of genius and almost hindsight-like percipience a
...more
Hard for me to remember how good or not this book was. I got it along with numerous others through the Scholastic Magazine mail order program. Very interesting to read the other side of the story. I remember being surprised that the air crews were so happy to see kamikaze pilots return alive. I assumed that it would seem dishonorable to not die. The edition I had showed a Zero on the cover. Date read is approximate.
I switched to this cover/edition. Closer to the one I had but I'm not sure it's t ...more
I switched to this cover/edition. Closer to the one I had but I'm not sure it's t ...more
First came across Sakai over 50 years ago. My copy, the second I've owned, is full of annotations and bookmarks. I've lost count of the numbers of times I've re-visited it.
Sakai recounts the story of a dogfight that occurred between him and US Navy pilot Pug Southerland over Guadalcanal in August 1942. Southerland's account can be found in Lundstrom's First Team book on the Solomons campaign.
If ever there was a clearer comparison of the cultural divergence between the way two men saw the same fi ...more
Sakai recounts the story of a dogfight that occurred between him and US Navy pilot Pug Southerland over Guadalcanal in August 1942. Southerland's account can be found in Lundstrom's First Team book on the Solomons campaign.
If ever there was a clearer comparison of the cultural divergence between the way two men saw the same fi ...more
A manly-man book about a manly-man
This book really was amazing. This is the only book I've read that when I finished the book the same day I bought it I went back to the beginning of the book and started over and read it again. This book follows the author from the time he was a boy to when he joined the military, (basic for them was far and away tougher than anything we have for our military!) to going on to become one of Japan's greatest fighter pilots. This story is truly legendary and deserves to be read and remembered.
Read it quite a number of years ago but it is not often one gets a perspective from the "other" side - specially Japanese. At least in this case, it reveals a human side that shows the main difference of war stories from a personal level is the uniform the character wears. I'd recommend this to those who have read fighter pilot stories from the American, British, and German sides.
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