SUBMITTED PHOTO MARK SAKAMOTO
Mark Sakamoto's book, 'Forgiveness,' is the story of his grandparents on both sides of his family, and their lives during, and after the Second World War. It is in the final five of CBC's Canada Reads 2018.
Medicine Hat native Mark Sakamoto has made the shortlist for CBC’s Canada Reads 2018 program.
Sakamoto’s book “Forgiveness” is one of the final five chosen. “Forgiveness” chronicles the lives of Sakamoto’s paternal and maternal grandparents during the Second World War, took roughly 20 months to write, and was published in 2014.
“The book is about both sides of my family during the Second World War,” the author told the News earlier this month. “The paternal side of my family, the Sakamotos, lost everything during the Japanese-Canadian internment. Their only crime was their ethnicity, so it was quite a black mark on the Canadian government and how they treated their citizens. On the other side of my family, was my grandfather, Ralph MacLean, who wanted to go and fight in Europe. He was sent to Hong Kong and was captured by Japanese forces on Christmas Eve of 1941. He was a prisoner of war, which was a horrific experience.”
Canada Reads will conclude and crown a winner with a three -day broadcast on CBC in March. At that time five well known Canadians will advocate for the book of their choice and debate each other. Jeanne Beker will advocate for “Forgiveness.” Beker is currently the style editor at the Shopping Channel and the host of “Style Matters” and has been recognized with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and is a recipient of the Order of Canada.
The three-day Canada Reads 2018 finale takes place March 26-29 and will be broadcast across CBC platforms.
