It is my hope that my story might help people realize that what they strongly believe in at one point in life, even to the extent of wanting to sacrifice their lives for the cause, may not be so believable in later life. . . . If only more . . . people would come to realize that no arguments, no differences of opinions--political, economic, social, religious or otherwise--are worthy of the sacrifice of human lives, including one's own, the purpose of this writing would be accomplished.

--Shigeo Imamura