Ken and his Japanese American comrades experience the horror of World War Two combat in Italy. Hardening in battle, they are readied for a push into France. Sheltering in foxholes as rockets rain down, Ken understands more about the stories his grandfather used to tell him as a child.

This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.

Cast:

Narrator: Will Sharpe
Ken: Akie Kotabe
Lieutenant/Bus guard/Texan soldier/Reporter: Freddy Elletson
Grandpa Allan/ Mr Yamada: Clyde Kusatsu
Emily: Samantha Dakin
Little Ken: Hudson Roberts.
Mrs Tanaka/Baachan/Shirley/Li: Tamlyn Tomita
Nui Louie/Mr Okimura: Aaron Ikeda
Barry/Captain Kim/Private Sasaki/Radio man: Derek Mio
Shorty: Raiko Gohara
Ohta/Captain Minori: Matt McCooey
Drill Sergeant/General Dahlquist: Martin McDougal
Colonel Pence/Earl Finch/Col Miller: Colin Stinton
Sonny: Kurt Kanazawa
Boxer/Crooner/Pokey: Conrad Lihilihi

Written by Iris Yamashita
Sound design: Richard Gould at Skywalker Sound
Recording and mixing: Leon Chambers
Original music: Josh Sneesby
Consultant: L Stuart Hirai
Dramaturg: James Yeatman
Broadcast assistant: Teresa Milewski
Production co-ordinator: Kate Brook
Associate producers: Tim Bell & Rosa Crompton
Director: Jessica Dromgoole
Producer: Catherine Bailey.
Based on an idea by Simon Pitts

A Catherine Bailey production for the BBC World Service