It is clear from the passage that Yukio Mishima fought in World War II as a samurai
was interested in space exploration, particularly of the moon
was engaged in many things simultaneously
wrote brilliant books, but not in large numbers
was a better writer than an actor
In his description of Yukio Mishima, the author seems to imply that Mishima lived a western-style life
was not successful as a samurai
was not normal mentally
was ashamed of his original name
was a man of contrasts
We learn from the passage that the point commonly depicted in Mishima's books was how to get rid of the negative aspects of Japanese tradition
how Japan could benefit from westernization
the importance of building an army of samurai
the necessity of a traditional literary group
the degeneration of Japanese traditions
194 WARRIOR WOMEN A team of American and Russian archaeologists announced the findings that they recorded during the lengthy excavation of a series of ancient tombs that date back to the 6th century BC, which were discovered along the westernmost border of Kazakhstan. Most surprising among the findings were the contents found within the tombs of females. The women had been buried along with swords, daggers, bows and arrows, leading many of the archaeologists to the preliminary conclusion that at least some of the female members of the Sauromatian and Sarmation nomadic tribes, to which the tombs had been traced, served as warriors. One of the most provocative graves was that of a bowlegged young woman who had been buried with a dagger and a quiver containing 40 bronze-tipped arrows. The woman's bowed legs, combined with the armaments at her side, seemed to indicate that she was trained both in horseback riding and archery and was perhaps skilled in the practice of mounted warfare. Some observers suggested that the women warriors bore some relation to the mythical Amazons, powerful female warriors of whom the Greek historian Herodotus had written. Archaeologists involved with the excavation stated that any connection between the entombed women and the legendary Amazons was largely speculative.
