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Hamada Chimei served in the Japanese military and saw action in China in 1939. There, he saw firsthand the horrors of the battlefield, the mindless hierarchy of the military, the irrationality of wartime decision-making, the humiliation of powerlessness and inability to think freely. Despondent, but sustained by his artist's eye, he recorded what he saw, often sketching on tissues as other materials were scarce.

This book catalogues Hamada's long artistic career, from its early days of battlefield scrap scribbling to thought-provoking finished work celebrated the world over for its eloquent potency. This book contains 225 illustrations of some of the most emotionally potent artwork produced in Japan—both Hamada's printed work and bronze sculptures are explored.