The Importance of Culture

Dorrigo and several of the other main characters are from Australia while the soldiers overseeing the Prisoner of War camp are a mixture of Japanese and Korean. There are major cultural differences and these are seen in detail as the perspective moves to those soldiers. Nakamura is a Japanese commander in charge of the POW camp where Dorrigo is interred. The railroad is an incredibly huge project and one that can't possibly be completed under the circumstances. However, Nakamura feels it is his duty to finish the line using the resources available to him. Basically, the prisoners are the only source of labor available and he believes it is his duty to finish the project. This duty he feels is ingrained in Nakamura as a basic part of his culture. He feels it necessary to do whatever he is commanded and his very...