Letters From Iwo Jima is an account detailing the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, fought between Japan and the US Marines during the Second World War. The account of the battle is told from the Japanese perspective, with particular focus on General Kuribayashi, who led the Japanese defence of the Island. Kakehashi combines the use of historical narrative of the events as well as letters written by Japanese soldiers, particularly Kuribayashi, to tell both the narrative of the battle and the personal impact it had on Japanese soldiers. While the book does contain a chapter on the narrative of the overall battle, it is more focused towards Kuribayashi and his preparations for the battle, as well as the impact the looming and imminent defeat for Japan had on both Kuribayashi and other soldiers on Iwo Jima. Kakehashi has included a detailed bibliography of her sources for further reading, as well as a series of black and white photographs relating to Kuribayashi and Iwo Jima.