Wilson authors story of fellow Monmouth grad, who helped shape U.S.-Japan relations
Monmouth, Ill. (09/03/2024) — A Monmouth College alumnus has authored a book on another graduate of his alma mater - a man who left an indelible stamp on U.S.-Japan relations, and a man whose story contains valuable lessons for today's world.
Houston-based author James Mikel Wilson's newest book, The Cherry Tree Weeps for Me: A Quest for The Dawn of Peace, is "a tale of resilience, sacrifice and unwavering dedication to peace and democracy" that tells the story of 1910 Monmouth graduate Takashi Komatsu.
"When I first heard about Takashi Komatsu, a man who loved the U.S. and Japan, I knew it was important to share his remarkable story," said Wilson, a 1966 graduate whose book will be available in paperback and as an eBook later this fall.
Wilson said Komatsu figured prominently into how two nations, "once bitter enemies, became friends and perhaps best allies," recounting the human intervention, sacrifice and emotional investment that occurred to heal old wounds and forge mutually beneficial friendships.
The Cherry Tree Weeps for Me traces Komatsu's extraordinary journey as he rose to the head of a large shipping company in Japan, befriended the heir to the last shogunate and the U.S. ambassador, and became a respected international businessman and statesman. The reader can follow Komatsu as he risked incarceration and assassination, making choices to defy military rulers and right-wing extremists as they, in Wilson's words, "insidiously edged Japan toward war and devoured a democracy."
The reviews are in
Two reviewers of Wilson's book noted Komatsu's story as an inspiration for modern times.
"Perhaps Wilson employs Komatsu's character and actions to inspire Americans during this time of extreme political divisiveness and mistrust," wrote one. "Will we forsake revenge and retribution by uniting to fortify peace, democracy, and prosperity? If so, who will emerge as our Komatsu?"
Added another: "When conflicts end, like the current Russian-Ukrainian War, who will be the artists of peace to bring warring partners past the residual anger to cooperation and perhaps friendship? Komatsu was such a man, and his impact seems incomprehensible."
Komatsu's extraordinary journey had an impactful stop in Monmouth, which was mentioned by 1988 Monmouth graduate Dan Cotter in his review.
"Wilson puts on full display in this book his liberal arts education to tell the story not only of the unsung hero, Takashi Komatsu, but of the history of the relationship between Japan and the United States," Cotter wrote. "He ties together these threads and alerts us to the incredible coincidences that took place. These included living next door to a curious younger boy in Monmouth who would later become responsible for one-half of the U.S. occupation of Japan and, by happenstance, cross paths with Komatsu in Tokyo after 35 years of separation. They would collaborate to begin reconstruction, and their sons would become Monmouth College classmates after the war."
Another reviewer with a Monmouth connection is retired college editor and historian Jeff Rankin.
"I was absolutely blown away by the volume of Wilson's research on Japan's geopolitical history and the details of Takashi Komatsu's life - particularly how they intersected with important global events," he wrote. "Komatsu's influence on the early years of Japan's post-WWII recovery and renewed friendship with the U.S. is still felt today, as evidenced by their strong strategic and economic alliances. Wilson's book illustrates that real life can be as captivating as fiction."
From Moline to Mary Crow
It's not the first time Wilson has taken a deep dive into an historical subject. Born during World War II in Moline, Illinois, Wilson grew up in the lingering shadows of that era. An urge to better grasp the fuses that sparked WWII led to his 2015 book, Churchill and Roosevelt: The Big Sleepover at the White House, which earned an Author Academy Award.
Wilson traces his interest in history to a legendary Monmouth professor. Over four decades, his work in international marketing and personal travel took him to five continents, 33 countries and 48 states. Wherever he went, Wilson craved to understand the history, culture and politics of each place. For that insatiable hunger, he "blames" one person, the late Mary Crow.
"She traveled the world and brought it back to her students in living color, using dramatic verbal skills and a clumsy slide projector," said Wilson. "Professor Crow ignited my curiosity in world affairs and even influenced my style of storytelling. Her exams were more about how history spoke to the present than remembering dates and places."
Back to Komatsu
Based on Komatsu's unsettled youth, no one could envision his role in raising Japan from the ruins of World War II to a global economic powerhouse. In 1899, a 12-year-old Komatsu embraced his country's pursuit of joining the modern world and boldly migrated alone to New York City. Trying to get ahead, he sought refuge in the YMCA while working grueling hours for a demanding import merchant.
Komatsu's faltering aspirations were reignited when a Christian woman missionary stepped forward to redirect his life to a small Midwestern town - Monmouth, Illinois. A decade later, Komatsu made his first major mark, delivering his famous 1911 commencement address at Harvard University, titled "The Dawn of Peace," which, said Wilson, "foretold the difference he would eventually make in the well-being of others."
"My wife (Kathy Lepard Wilson '67) and I will gift all royalties from the book to Monmouth," said Wilson. "It was the college that changed the arc of Takashi's young life, equipping him to deliver his 'Dawn of Peace' commencement address. More than a century later, Monmouth continues to transform lives, as it did ours."
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