Letters from Iwo Jima

In 1944, as World War II rages, the Japanese military fortifies Iwo Jima, a small volcanic island strategically located between Japan and the American air bases of the Mariana Islands. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi takes command, facing the impossible task of preparing his outnumbered and under-supplied troops for the impending battle against the advancing American forces. Drawing on his experience in America, Kuribayashi devises a defense strategy that departs from traditional Japanese tactics, hoping to make the inevitable invasion as costly as possible for the enemy. He orders the construction of an extensive network of underground tunnels and fortifications, planning to fight a war of attrition from below the island's rocky surface.

Among the soldiers is Saigo, a young baker who is torn from his family and has grown disillusioned with the war. Saigo represents the common soldier, grappling with fear and questioning the sense behind the war and his role in it. The narrative intertwines Saigo's personal perspective with the broader strategy and camaraderie of the Japanese garrison. As the American forces finally land on the beaches of Iwo Jima, the Japanese soldiers must confront the harsh reality of their circumstances, with each man facing the limits of his courage and the weight of his duty. The unfolding drama captures the intense human experiences of war – sacrifice, honor, and the struggle for survival against overwhelming odds.