Henry Sakaida


Henry Sakaida was an American writer who authored a number of books relating to World War II. He was a third-generation Japanese-American.

Biography

Although born in Santa Monica, California on October 1951, he lived in Japan from the age of 3 to 5, before returning to the U.S. His father, a Japanese American, spent the duration of the war at the Manzanar Relocation Centre.
Sakaida attended Rosemead High School, and was in the class of 1970. He became interested in WWII aviation whilst at grammar school.
In 1971, Henry became acquainted with former Japanese Naval Pilot Saburō Sakai after they met at Miramar. He later Winged Samurai: [Saburo Sakai and the Zero Fighter Pilots|published a book] about Sakai's war history in 1985.
In 2018, he died at his home following a stroke, aged 66.

Notable works