Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Daikon by Samuel Hawley

1. The Prologue is notably different from the rest of Daikon in many ways. Why do you think the author chose to begin with this romantic, nostalgic scene in America? Do you think the desired effect is achieved?
2. Daikon is ultimately a story of homecoming. At the end of the book, Keizo, Noriko, and Yagi all experience coming home or rebuilding home, in different ways. Did you find yourself drawn to one of their stories more than the others?
3. At the end of the book, it is revealed that Aiko's name, which means "child of love," is hidden within "Daikon." A "child of love" nested in a bomb. How is this symbolic of the motivations Keizo has, and the choices he makes, toward the end of the war?
4. Though they are both starkly different in many ways, both Keizo Kan and Colonel Sagara exhibit what appears to be bravery. Especially toward the end of the book, how do their shows of bravery differ?
5. On page 111, the commander addressing the kaiten pilots is heard to say, "[The enemy] loves his country and has his own national spirit ... So you must strengthen your Japanese spirit. You must love your country even more and fight even harder!" Who do you think exhibits patriotism and love of their country most profoundly in Daikon? Are there any shows of patriotism that surprised you?
6. What literary devices does the author employ to keep suspense high throughout the book?
7. Compare and contrast Colonel Sagara and Captain Onda. In what ways are they similar, and different?
8. Further tension between Keizo and Japanese military ideals is introduced when Keizo recalls his time studying under Oppenheimer in California. How did Oppenheimer's words to Keizo on page 197 change how Keizo thought about physics, thereby affecting his future work on the bomb in Japan?
9. How do you think Noriko, Keizo, and Yagi would each define "home?" How might their answers vary?
10. Yagi and Keizo could easily have been enemies, but instead they gradually developed a powerful friendship that outlasted the war. At what point did their strong bond begin to form?
11. Reread Colonel Sagara's story in chapter 8. Now that you have read the entire book, do these pages spark empathy within you or encourage you to look at Sagara differently than you did when you finished the book?
12. Throughout the book, the flashbacks are put in italics to differentiate them from the rest of the text. Why do you think the author chose to use italics in this way? What effect does it have on the reader?
13. How did you respond to finding Aiko's name hidden in Daikon?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Simon & Schuster. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.