Returning the Sword: How a Japanese Sword of War Became a Symbol of Peace and Friendship

Minnesota soldier Orval Amdahl served in World War II, arriving in Nagasaki, Japan, in the autumn of 1945 to keep the peace in the aftermath of the atomic bombing there. Before he returned to the United States, he had the chance to take a Japanese sword as a war souvenir. Decades later, he unexpectedly had the opportunity to reconnect with the family of the soldier who owned that sword and return it to them in peace, with honor.

A powerful story of war, peace, and reconciliation from Minnesota author Caren Stelson and Japanese American illustrator Amanda Yoshida.