The novel, Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, took place on a small island off the coast of Washington state called San Piedro. The islanders mostly kept to themselves and there were no real disputes that ever came about until a Japanese-American named Kabuo Miyamoto was accused of murdering a local white fisherman named Carl Heine. Kabuo was arrested when a blood stained gaff was found on his boat with the same rare blood type as the "murdered" fishermen. The book takes the reader step by step through a murder trial and the lives of several islanders involved. Guterson shows how racism after World War II affects the thoughts and actions of people involved in the trial.
             Kabuo Miyamoto has several characteristics that seem to stand out among the rest. He portrays physical strength in that he is a master in the Japanese art of stick fighting called Kendo. His father taught him at an early age and Kabuo mastered it over the years. "His hair had been cropped close to his skull in a manner that made its musculature prominent". (pg.3) The author even uses indirect characterization to inform the reader that Kabuo was a strong individual. When he was sitting in the courtroom his wife, Hatsue Miyamoto, advised him to not to maintain his bold upright posture because she was afraid if would frighten the jury to show such strength while facing an indictment.
             Kabuo was not only strong he was determined not to give up hope, even when the court case looked bad and he lost all faith in the system, he stayed determined to be found innocent of the charges he was wrongfully accused. Another example of determination is when the land his father bought from Carl Heine Sr. was wrongfully sold off to someone else directly after Carl's death. "You didn't tell him we were one payment away!"(pg.137) "You haven't done anything illegal, wrong is a different matter!"(pg.138) Kabuo argues to Carl&...