Snow Falling on Cedars explores the notions of love and loss as they relate to racism, responsibility, and injustice. Every character in the novel is both directly and indirectly affected by what happens during World War II. For the most part, characters neither take nor accept responsibility for their thoughts and actions, and thus the war becomes the scapegoat.
Ishmael and Kabuo. An interesting parallel exists between Ishmael, the protagonist, and Kabuo, the character who would be the main character if Snow Falling on Cedars were only a murder mystery. Both island veterans returned scarred from the war but are not considered heroes. Both love Hatsue in the manner in which their respective cultures understand love. And both spend their time after the war carrying a grudge, longing to regain what was lost during the war. Ishmael lost the love of his life, his faith in God, and his arm. Kabuo lost his sense of honor and his family's land. Neither character is happy. In fact, Ishmael's mother is quick to tell him "'That you are unhappy, I have to say, is the most obvious thing in the world.'"
The biggest difference between the two is that Ishmael, in great part due to his anguish over Hatsue, blames the Japanese for his heartbreak and the loss of his arm. When Hatsue sees him after the war and notices his arm, Ishmael angrily says, "'The Japs did it. . . . They shot my arm off. Japs.'" Through much of the story, Ishmael is willing to hold an entire race of people responsible for the current state of his life.
