Other editions of book Edokko: Growing Up a Foreigner in Wartime Japan

"Edokko is an inspiring work by one of America's great attorneys and international thinkers and ... a moving coming-of-age story ..." -David A. Andelman, Editor, World Policy Journal "... a powerful testament to grace of humanity in its most brilliant and glorious manifestation." -Da Chen, Author of the bestselling memoir, Colours of the Mountain, and the novel, Brothers Constantine and Lydia Shapiro, both professional musicians, met in Berlin and fell in love after their families fled from war, revolution, and anti-Semitism in early twentieth-century Russia. In Hitler's Germany, they again faced persecution. Realizing the danger of remaining in Europe, they continued their odyssey, first to Palestine, and ultimately to the relative safety of China and Japan. In Tokyo in 1931, their fourth son, Isaac, was born. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the sudden onset of World War II, the family's life was disrupted once again. They moved from city to city in war-torn Japan, surviving privations and the bombing of Japan by the United States. During the subsequent American occupation of Japan, fourteen-year-old Isaac was hired to be an interpreter by a U.S. Marine Colonel from far-off Arkansas. Colonel (later Lieutenant General) John Calvin "Toby" Munn gave Isaac ("Ike") the opportunity to immigrate to America. Isaac landed in Hawaii in the summer of 1946, completely altering the course of his life.

Little did Constantine and Lydia Shapiro know that as their families each fled from war, revolution, and anti-Semitism in early 20th Century Russia that they would meet in Berlin and fall in love. As Hitler rose to power, they again faced persecution. Realizing the danger of remaining in Europe, they continued their odyssey, first to Palestine, and ultimately to the relative safety of China and Japan. In 1931 Tokyo, their son Isaac was born. The first eleven years of his life were relatively stable, except for the intimidating influence of his father, a strict disciplinarian. But the sudden onset of World War II with the bombing of Pearl Harbor altered the course of the family's life yet again. They moved from city to city in war-torn Japan, surviving privations and the bombing of Japan by the United States. The subsequent US occupation led Isaac to be befriended by a US Marine Colonel from far-off Arkansas. Colonel (later Lieutenant General) John Calvin "Toby" Munn gave Isaac ("Ike") the opportunity to immigrate to America. Continuing his family's circuitous journey, Isaac landed in Hawaii in the summer of 1946, ready to experience yet another culture. From the young age of fifteen, Isaac has been encouraged to share his family's fascinating story. With this book, he has finally accomplished what so many have asked him to do.

Little did Constantine and Lydia Shapiro know that as their families each fled from war, revolution, and anti-Semitism in early 20th Century Russia that they would meet in Berlin and fall in love. As Hitler rose to power, they again faced persecution. Realizing the danger of remaining in Europe, they continued their odyssey, first to Palestine, and ultimately to the relative safety of China and Japan. In 1931 Tokyo, their son Isaac was born. The first eleven years of his life were relatively stable, except for the intimidating influence of his father, a strict disciplinarian. But the sudden onset of World War II with the bombing of Pearl Harbor altered the course of the family's life yet again. They moved from city to city in war-torn Japan, surviving privations and the bombing of Japan by the United States. The subsequent US occupation led Isaac to be befriended by a US Marine Colonel from far-off Arkansas. Colonel (later Lieutenant General) John Calvin "Toby" Munn gave Isaac ("Ike")