A Passage Through SEVEN LIVES is a stunning and perceptive memoir/history of Japanese culture and imperialism before and after the WW II. It is told with sensitivity and a warming, personalized look at the life of ordinary citizens both in the U.S. and Japan. Kyo Takahashi weaves a majestic tapestry, using the history of Japan and bloody battlefields as the warp, and lives of people who were involved in the war, as the weft. The author's personal recollections are interspersed with a detailed review of the political and social history of this era. Every fact was blended in carefully with artistic illustrations of key individuals and various events, creating a shocking and enlightening panorama. This book is a valuable addition for those not familiar with modern Japanese history. It also tells the American Friends Service Committee's supportive actions for Japanese Americans who were sent to the internment camps.