A River in Darkness book cover

A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa Summary

A River in Darkness
Masaji Ishikawa
4.28 (61212 Reviews)
Biography
Politics
History
Panoramica
Punti Chiave
Autore
Domande Frequenti

Overview of A River in Darkness

Masaji Ishikawa's harrowing memoir reveals his 36-year nightmare in North Korea - a rare firsthand account of starvation, propaganda, and eventual escape. What happens when a promised "paradise" becomes hell on earth? This shocking testimony changed how we understand the hermit kingdom.

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Punti chiave

1

When Paradise Was a Lie

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A thirteen-year-old boy stands at Shinagawa Station in 1960, watching his best friend Lion push through a cheering crowd. "Are you really going?" Lion asks, tears streaming down his face. The boy promises to write, to return someday. But as the train pulls away toward a ship bound for North Korea-the supposed "paradise on earth"-he knows he'll never see his friend again. What follows is thirty-six years of hell that would test the limits of human endurance and expose one of the twentieth century's cruelest deceptions. Masaji Ishikawa's journey into darkness began with a campaign of lies. In the late 1950s, the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan launched a "return to North Korea" movement, though most Koreans in Japan had never set foot there. The propaganda was relentless: free education, stable jobs, a better life. What really convinced people wasn't grand ideology but simple promises-enough food, dignity, opportunity. Japan wanted to rid itself of Koreans they feared might cause unrest; Kim Il-sung needed workers to rebuild after the Korean War. Together, they orchestrated a mass migration that would trap over 93,000 people in a totalitarian nightmare. When Ishikawa's ship approached Chongjin port, he saw only barren mountains. An elderly passenger clutched the rail, his face ashen: "This isn't what I expected." It was already too late.

2

A Childhood Split Between Two Worlds

3

The Trap Closes: Arrival in Hell

4

The Slow Death of Hope

5

When a Nation Starves

6

Crossing the River Between Life and Death

7

Freedom's Cruel Price

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

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