Dr. Sadao Hoki was a true Japanese like his father. He was a brave boy who obeyed and respected his father and loved Japanese culture, tradition, and people. He was intelligent and hardworking and studied surgery and medicine in America for eight years. He married a Japanese girl, Hana, whom he had met in America. But he waited for his father’s approval and their marriage was arranged in the old Japanese way after they had returned home to Japan. They had two children. He still loved his wife as warmly as ever. Dr. Sadao was an eminent surgeon as well as a scientist. The old General had full faith in him. He was not sent abroad with the troops because the old General might need an operation. Dr. Sadao was called even at odd hours from the palace. He was a real doctor. He would not let a man die if he could help him. That is why he cured even an “enemy” of the bullet wound and did not hand him over to the police. He faced a great risk to his position and life by sheltering the man. Since Dr. Sadao could not kill the man himself, he sought the help of the old General to get rid of him. When that plan failed, he let the prisoner escape to calm down the fears of his wife and let the household run properly. It may be a blemish from a narrow patriotic angle but a sensitive soul can’t take back what he has given. He gives the prisoner his boat and helps him to escape safely thus honoring both the values that he was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. As a doctor, Sadao knew the value of human life. He risked his own life by saving the American sailor, even though he knew that he could go to prison for hiding a prisoner of war. As a Japanese citizen, he fulfilled his duty by telling the General about the Americans. Thus we can say that Sadao carried out his responsibilities, as a doctor, and as a Japanese citizen both.
