I was really surprised by the deftness with which Ishiguro crafted this character, a narrative so different from his other, more famous novels. This perspective of patriotism in post war Japan from a retired artist is really interesting and the use of unreliable narration crafting a conflicted mindset — our narrator feels both guilty and proud of his past, asking how he must adjust the way he addresses his career in the wake of modern Japan’s attitude toward him, how this might have tangible effects for him family, too. Through lovely, meditative prose, Ishiguro poses these questions about patriotism, about choices one has made, about guilt and where it must be placed and where it manifests itself in the consciousness.

'Army officers, politicians, businessmen, Matsuda said.