The Consequences of Survival
When the pilot returns home, he faces a fate that might be worse than death. His wife refuses to speak to him or even meet his eyes, treating him as if he doesn't exist. The neighbours follow suit, acting as though he's already dead.
Even his own children gradually learn to ignore their father completely. The family lives "as though he had never returned," creating a heartbreaking atmosphere of social rejection and shame. In Japanese culture, failing to complete a kamikaze mission brought dishonour to the entire family.
The poem's final lines are particularly haunting - the daughter suggests her father "must have wondered which had been the better way to die." This shows how his choice to live resulted in a kind of social death that lasted for years.
The tone of regret and sympathy runs throughout, as the poem is told from the perspective of his daughter, who understands both why he returned and the terrible price he paid for choosing life over honour.
Remember: This poem shows how war affects not just soldiers but entire families, and how cultural expectations can make survival feel like punishment.