The Sword of Kaigen

As the narrative unfolds the two concepts of obedience and purpose repeatedly converge and contradict each other as various characters disagree about the value and limits of obedience and the importance of each person’s unique purpose. In the culture of Shirojima (as in its real-life inspiration, Japan), honor and loyalty are deeply valued by everyone in society, particularly by the nobility. 

Crucially, this concept of honor and loyalty often manifests as unquestioning obedience to any authority, whether it be military, governmental, or familial. Takeru and the other men of the Matsuda family would argue that such loyalty and obedience to authority is an inherent and indelible component of their purpose within society. This belief ties in heavily with the theme of truth and propaganda as well, for as Takeru argues, “What the Emperor does or doesn’t tell us is irrelevant [...] None of it changes the fact that we are here to lay down our lives for the Empire. We are the Sword of Kaigen” (179). For Takeru, the difference between truth and propaganda is moot in the face of his purpose as a sword; he sees himself as a tool to be unquestioningly and obediently used by its wielder—in this case, the empire itself.

Takeru’s sense of obedience (which hides under the guise of honor and loyalty) also applies to his relationship with his brother Takashi, and these dynamics cause pain for both him and Misaki. Significantly, the name “Takashi” means “filial piety,” and Wang uses this association to obliquely indicate the expectations that Takeru and his family will show respect and obedience to the concept of familial authority. However, Misaki claims that Takeru’s unquestioning deference to his older brother and his inability to stand up to authority ultimately lead to Mamoru’s death. Takeru himself later reveals that he feels the same way and is burdened by guilt and shame for this failure. In this way, the narrative suggests that Takeru betrays his true purpose by succumbing to the misguided ideal of unthinking obedience.

Accordingly, Misaki argues that Takeru’s true purpose as a warrior, husband, and father should have been to keep his family safe and that his unquestioning obedience to Takashi has hindered that purpose. Worse yet, he fails again when he proves himself incapable of standing up to Colonel Song and does not protect the village for which he is responsible. Thus, in this scenario, obedience and purpose stand in opposition to each other, and Takeru chooses to uphold the wrong ideal. His experiences highlight the line where honor and obedience dissolve into weak-willed cowardice.

Meanwhile, other characters stand in contrast with Takeru, most notably his son, Mamoru. Unlike Takeru, Mamoru proves himself capable of defying the strictures of obedience and stands up to authority when he feels that it is the right thing to do. Though Takeru is infuriated in the moment, he later recognizes that his son had more bravery and moral backbone than he ever did, and this inner admission inspires him to improve his own actions in the future.

Similarly, Misaki is motivated by her son’s disobedience to defy the expectations of honor and obedience that have been placed on her. Both in flashbacks and in the present, Misaki struggles with her sense of ethics and purpose as they clash with the traditions and expectations of her family and culture. She chose obedience once when she sacrificed her love for Robin to marry Takeru, and she has since lived to regret that decision. By the end of the novel, however, she finds a way to balance her sense of purpose with her obligations to society and to her family.