The Italian War

The Italian War as Seen by a Japanese is composed of several letters Harukichi Shimoi wrote from the Italian-Austrian front of WW1, as well as letters and statements from his friends. Originally published La Guerra Italiana Vista da un Giapponese, it describes Shimoi’s experiences as an Arditi, the elite soldiers of the Italian army. Whether crossing the Pieve under the fire of machine guns or liberating the city of Trento from Austrian rule, Shimoi always keeps a keen eye and poetic sensitivity as he describes the scenes of war.