The Tragic Memoir of Prince Katsu Shibayama

A prince torn between two worlds faces a war that demands more than courage—it demands the impossible choice between duty and conscience.

A prince divided by duty. A world at war. A choice that could cost him everything.

Prince Katsu Shibayama has always lived between two worlds. Raised in Japan’s imperial court yet drawn to the culture of Britain, he carries both traditions in his heart. As a young man, he serves honorably in the Royal Navy during World War I—but the next great war forces him into an impossible conflict of loyalty.

When Japan strikes Pearl Harbor, Katsu must decide: follow his duty to the Emperor, or remain true to the Western ideals that shaped him. Bound by an arranged marriage to Princess Ume and tested by the brutal realities of naval warfare and aerial combat, his struggle becomes more than a fight for survival—it is a battle for identity, honor, and love.

Rich in historical detail, Joseph Faulkner’s novel sweeps from the opulence of Japanese royalty to the blood-stained seas of the Pacific, in a powerful tale of courage, betrayal, and the choices that define a generation.

Experience a story of war, love, and honor that will stay with you long after the final page.