Dragon of the Mangroves

Dragon of the Mangrove, written by Yasuyuki Kasai, details inspired true events of the Japanese Burma campaign during World War II; more specifically, this book covers the story of Japan’s evacuation of Ramree Island, located in the Bay of Bengal and just off the coast of Burma (Myanmar), at the end of World War II. Kasai tells this story from the viewpoints of two different people. One of them, Superior Private Minoru Kasuga, is part of the Japanese garrison stuck on Ramree Island fighting British-Indian forces. The other, Second Lieutenant Yoshihisa Sumi, is leading a rescue party to evacuate Japanese forces from Ramree Island.

In truth, almost all the way throughout the book I was more worried about the enemy (British-Indian forces) than crocodiles. This surprised me since in the “From the Author” section, at the front of the book, Kasai states that nearly a thousand Japanese infantrymen fell to the jaws of man-eating crocodiles while trying to flee Ramree Island. However, crocodiles only make a few appearances throughout the book before their big role at the end. If I were the author I would have either changed the title or added more crocodile “action” throughout the book. Nevertheless, this does not sway my opinion; I still enjoyed reading every part of Dragon of the Mangroves.

One thing about this book is that it made me think about the word “enemy” and its use during times of war. As an American, I had to remind myself several times that my countrymen were the enemy in the eyes of Sumi and Kasuga. I was always taught to think of the Japanese as the “bad guys” during World War II. Kasai did a great job of humanizing the Japanese soldiers, particularly Sumi and Kasuga, and since this book was written through the eyes of Japanese soldiers, I felt for them.

I have no right to view Sumi or Kasuga as “evil enemies;” they, like most other soldiers throughout wartime history, did not chose to fight in World War II… they were drafted. In reality, it is not soldiers that decide to go to war; it is not soldiers who decide to order banzai charges, kamikaze attacks, or other wartime atrocities. Sumi and Kasuga, like many other Allied soldiers, believed in their cause because that was what they were taught; the “evil enemies” are found not in the ranks of common soldiers but mostly in political palaces and top military headquarters. This book helped me realize that. I recommend this book to history buffs and those interested in World War II.