1. Honesty Toward His Profession (The Doctor's Duty)
As a surgeon, Dr. Sadao’s primary duty was to save a dying life, regardless of the person's identity.
- Saving the Enemy: Despite knowing that the man was an American prisoner of war (an enemy of Japan), Sadao could not let him die. He said, "If he were a well man I could turn him over to the police... but since he is wounded..."
- Operating Under Stress: He operated on the soldier with great precision, even when his servants revolted and left the house. His commitment to the "Hippocratic Oath" (the oath of doctors) was absolute.
- Personal Care: He and his wife, Hana, fed and nursed the soldier back to health, showing that his honesty as a doctor was not just about surgery but also about the recovery of the patient.
2. Honesty Toward His Country (The Citizen's Duty)
Dr. Sadao was not a traitor. He did not hide the American soldier because of a lack of patriotism.
- Confessing to the General: He acted honestly as a Japanese citizen by informing the General about the presence of the white man in his house. He told the General everything, effectively putting his own life and reputation at risk.
- Waiting for the Assassins: He agreed to the General’s plan to send private assassins to kill the soldier. He kept the outer partition of the soldier's room open for three nights, waiting for the killers. This shows he was willing to let his country take charge of the "enemy."
3. The Moral Resolution
When the General forgot to send the assassins due to his own illness, Sadao faced a dilemma. To save his family from further danger and to save his own conscience, he helped the soldier escape.
- He provided the soldier with a boat, food, and clothing.
- He gave him instructions on how to reach a nearby island and signal for help.