Okinawa

Okinawa is the overall setting for the novel. It is a real country adjacent to Japan and became part of Japan years before the events of this novel. Before the Americans were set to land on Okinawa, the people were somewhat autonomous with their own religions, social structure, and dialect. However, the Japanese government set restrictions in play in advance of the Americans' arrival. There are specific settings in Okinawa that are important to the events of this novel, including the beach, the Shuri Castle, and the tomb of Hideki's ancestors. There are also general settings, including the caves and the countryside where the fighting takes place.

The Beach

The beach is where Ray and most of the other Americans first set foot on Okinawa, landing from ships in the harbor. They expect a dramatic firefight just to get past the fortifications at the beach, but there is...