The document provides background on WWII and Japan's involvement. It discusses how Japan invaded China and tried to invade Russia after facing economic problems. It also explains how Japanese officials in Korea were targeted as Japan started losing WWII. Additionally, it covers Pearl Harbor and kamikaze pilots who willingly crashed planes into US battleships, viewing it as an honorable death. Finally, it notes that while Japan seemed to be winning in Korea at first, they ultimately lost WWII, leading many Koreans to oppose Japanese rule in their country and marking the start of the Korean-Japanese conflict addressed in the book.

1. Japan in wwii How So Far From the Bamboo Grove Connects to History

2. Background Information WWII was going on in Europe. Germany and Italy were out for world domination. They were lead by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussilini. Japan was going through some hard times because of problems in America with money Japan invaded China and was trying to invade Russia as well. Japanese government officials living in Korea were targeted as soon as Japan began to lose WWII.

3. Some Information

4. Pearl Harbor and Japanese Kamikaze Pilots Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941 at 8 am Kamikaze pilots are suicide pilots who flew their planes in to the US battleships Kamikaze pilots flew planes directly into US battleships Kamikaze pilots felt that this was the ultimate honorable death

5. Kamikaze about to hit USS Maryland A view of the attacks The USS Virginia Some Images from Pearl Harbor

6. Pearl Harbor

7. Meanwhile in Korea Japan seems to be winning at first, but they do not win WWII Many Koreans now see this as an opportunity to get away from Japanese rule. They begin to go against Japanese government living in their country. This is when the Korean/Japanese conflict began which is when the book takes place. This is when Yoko and her mother and sister must flee to Japan

8. A Map of Korea and Japan