The Broken Map Home
Caitlin Press, 2005
Pre-order Now: https://caitlinpress.com/Books/T/The-Broken-Map-Home
A granddaughter’s tribute to her grandfather, The Broken Map Home is a gripping memoir of a Japanese man’s journey back home against all odds during the Second World War.
Description
Konosuke Masuda bridges past and present as he recounts his desperate journey, brought to life in translation by his granddaughter, Keiko Honda.
In Masuda's harrowing WWII memoir, he recalls Korea under 35 years of Japanese colonial rule. In the summer of 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies, leaving approximately 850,000 Japanese civilians in Korea facing an uncertain future. Drafted by the Japanese Army just three months before the end of the war, Masuda joined fellow Japanese citizens on their perilous flight from North Korea toward repatriation in Japan. Their story unfolded against a land violently divided on the 38th parallel by the Soviet Union and the United States, and further ravaged by hunger and epidemic.
The Broken Map Home is a powerful account of suffering and resilience that transcends boundaries and borders, offering a humanizing counter-narrative to global conflict and fostering compassionate understanding in a fractured world.
Reviews
“In her poignant translation of The Broken Map Home, Keiko gives voice to a story that demands to be heard. It's a deeply moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable hardship. Through the powerful voice of her grandfather, Keiko illuminates a lesser-known chapter of World War II, reminding us of the enduring strength and compassion that transcends national boundaries. This book is a vital contribution to our understanding of the human cost of conflict and a powerful call for peace and empathy in our fractured world.”
—Joy Kogawa
"I was moved by the struggles your grandfather endured in Korea during the US/Soviet occupation of Korea and his struggle to escape to the 38th Parallel. It reminded me of how the war impacted the Japanese whether they lived in Korea or Canada and the manner in which the Japanese people were able to overcome what seemed be insurmountable challenges with hope and perseverance. It is stories like your grandfather's that is the reflection of the strength and courage of our forefathers that need to be documented and remembered."
—Dr. Art Miki, Human Rights Champion, author of Gaman – Perseverance, Winner of a 2025 Canada-Japan Literary Award
Translations are tricky. How do you preserve the integrity of the original work while exhibiting your writing skills? In The Broken Map Home, Keiko Honda does exactly that with care, respect and, above all else, love.
—Terry Watada, author of the novel Hiroshima Bomb Money and the poetry collection,The Mask (2024)
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