Some images will be upsetting, but this is all being presented as a historical examination of war and american attitudes towards the japanese during world war ii. The japanese occupation of malaya and singapore, 1941 45. They should be comprehensive and full of details, without being dry and boring. The two signed a commerce and navigation treaty in 1911. The best books on the aftermath of world war ii five. Here are a few of my suggestions starting with my favorite book. Some of the material is controversial and some is blatantly racist. Macarthur, enacted widespread military, political, economic, and social reforms.
Life on the home front during world war ii was a significant part of the war effort for all participants and had a major impact on the outcome of the war. The pacific half of world war ii, which began with japans attack on the american naval base at pearl harbor, hawaii, on december 7, 1941, ended almost four years later when japan surrendered to americanled allies on september 2, 1945. It goes into great detail about the racial and cultural aspects of the war. My christian friends had to burn the books in their library to keep warm. It would be great if they also contained plenty of personal accounts, reports, anecdotes etc from people especially soldiers who were involved in the fighting rather than just describing battle after.
It was written with an eye toward not only japans security but the. Commodore matthew perry opened american trade relations with japan in 1854. The japanese army during world war ii committed many crimes against humanity that were ordered by the government and high command. The capital is tokyo, which, along with neighboring yokohama, forms the worlds most populous metropolitan region. Relations with japan had been strained for some time. Usjapan relations during the 1930s and early 1940s. Many books have been written about the allied occupation of germany at the end of ww2, i have got and read a few of of them, and life was undoubtedly harsh during those times. It is the story of a japanese man who dodges the draft and that there were draft dodgers in japan during wwii is simply never talked about. Land japan proper has four main islands, which are from north to south hokkaido, honshu the largest island, where the. Wwii from the japanese perspective book talk librarything. How japanese nationalism was, and what it became after wwii. The japanese occupation of malaya and singapore, 194145. Marshall foundation and the virginia military institute.
Hello select your address todays deals best sellers customer service find a gift best sellers customer service find a gift. The pacific war, 19411945, francis pike challenges the standard interpretations of the causes of the war. Various american explorers and trading vessels visited japan in the next 50 years, until the united states and japan established formal relations in 1854, when commodore matthew perry of the u. The keystone for this is thesupreme commander for the allied powers name for the effective. Japan, china, the united states and the road to pearl harbor, 193741 between 1937 and 1941, escalating conflict between china and japan influenced u. Japan would have collapsed within three months from total starvation. That is how, at the age of 14, i first learned of japans relations with the outside world. Nus press is the academic press of the national university of singapore. Navy persuaded japan to open to international trade, with the convention of kanagawa. To the reverse is a hinged, vertical pin, with a locking catch assembly near the base. The roosevelt administration was fully aware of japans dependence on imports. A large, shield shaped badge featuring a fouled anchor atop a pair of crossed swords with a raised, large five pointed star. Perhaps you could describe for us continental europe in the months and years immediately after ve day in may 1945, the date when hostilities officially ended.
In the japanese equivalent of the nurnberg trials, held in tokyo in 1946, many of the highranking officers and government officials were found guilty of genocide and war crimes and executed. Japan is trying to rewrite its horrific world war ii. Japan was an overcrowded island nation that was highly dependent on trade from other countries due to its lack of natural resources. In the summer of 1941, as americas relations with imperial japan approached a diplomatic impasse, the war department intelligence division launched a secret effort to recruit and train west coast nisei to be japaneselanguage interpreters and translators.
This section will deal with aspects of world war ii as it relates to japan. List of books and articles about japan, world war ii. Its very convenient to think of wars as having neat beginnings and endings but thats rarely the case, especially world war ii. John kendrick is the first american known to have visited japan, commanding two exploration ships in 1791. Ten good books about japan at war all these books are currently available on in the u. The trade relationship has particularly prospered since then, with japanese automobiles. Japans aggressive role in dealing with china was a continual source of tensionindeed eventually led to world war ii between them.
Drawing on a vast range of japanese sources and illustrated with dozens of astonishing documentary photographs. Giangreco in the journal of military history, 61 july 1997. It deals with his years in hiding during the war, and then his life after the war, when, though the militarism of the war years has begun to be repudiated, peoples attitudes toward the protagonist remain. This is the fist book that i have come across that is purely to do with the. Japanese remorse for war debated world news nbc news. Japanunited states relations refers to international relations between japan and the united. After japan annexed the korean peninsula in 1910, we spent a lot of money. Japan and world war ii research papers include information on japans entry into wwii and battles with the united states. Usjapan relations before world war two may 26, 2011 japanese soldiers raise their flag over the central government building in nanking after seizing the city in 1937. Japans decision to launch a war against the united states is masterfully recounted in eri hottas japan. Dower, is an excellent history of postwar japan from 1946 to the end of the us occupation in 1952, and slightly onward. Fires on the plain about the japanese occupation in the philippines and the degradation of men as war endures shusaku endo. Japanese historyworld war ii wikibooks, open books for. Overseas military presence after world war ii similar strategic interest, and japan provides bases to u.
An estimated 74,000 people died within the first five months, and another 75,000 were injured. Occupation and reconstruction of japan, 194552 after the defeat of japan in world war ii, the united states led the allies in the occupation and rehabilitation of the japanese state. Yet, as we have seen, it had terminated americas longstanding commercial treaty with her. This is why there was no reason to drop these atomic bombs. The surrender came after the united states had dropped two atomic bombs on japan. The book looks at many different topics from this period, but conveys the massive paradigm shift that took place in japan following its defeat in war.
The controversies primarily concern the japanese nationalist efforts to whitewash the actions of the empire of japan during world war ii another serious issue is the constitutionality of the. France and the uk were bloodthirsty enemies for the better part of a millennium, but by the second half of the 19th century, they moved closer and closer together and have remained more o. On the one hand, after three and a half years of some of the most bitter and bloody. Japan has not had a single casualty of war and has not killed any foreign people for almost 60 years under the pacifist constitution, said aiko kashima, 77, who visited tokyos. Another one, not written by a japanese, is war without mercy. Reconsidering wwii, from the japanese perspective wnyc. Dowers brilliant examination of japan in the immediate, shattering aftermath of world war ii. Japanese war crimes by peter li editor paperback sugamo prison, tokyo. Local boards of education select books from a list of authorized textbooks for. The relationship between the united states and japan during the 1930s and early 1940s was one of suspicion and distrust. After january 1940 japan had to ask permission on a casebycase basis whenever she wanted to import from the united states. On august 9, 1945, three days after the atomic bombing of hiroshima, the united states dropped a second atomic bomb on nagasaki, a small port city on japans southernmost island. After germanys surrender, the defeat on okinawa, and realizing their ability to make war had vanished, the emperor finally decided to open negotiations via the soviets stating i desire that concrete plans to end the war, unhampered. Paper masters research paper topics world history wars.
Today, germany enjoys good relations with israel and is a pillar of the european union, accomplishments that would have been impossible if old wounds were left open. Unknown to japan, the allies had already cut a deal with the soviets to attack japan once germany was defeated. A short history of japanese war crimes by lord russell of. What are the best books about the eastern front during ww2. During world war ii, the japanese government created a research bureau, the chosabu, to study. Competing voices from the pacific war by including a range of primary sources representing the experiences and views of participants and commentators of all sides and setting them in their historical contexts, this unique anthology promotes an understanding of the pacific war, the events that led up to it, and its legacies. It rationed such things as gasoline, heating oil, metals, rubber, paper1 and plastics. Winner of the pulitzer prize, the 1999 national book award for nonfiction, finalist for the lionel gelber prize and the kiriyama pacific rim book prize, embracing defeat is john w. Ginn hardcover november 1992 asin0899507395 out of print try used books. Japanese nationalism, before and after wwii by gabby. The pt boat had returned to its tender after the commanding officer was wounded, and the coxswain of the lcv shouted and motioned for the cavalrymen to get on board, but only five of them reached the boat, as the others were engaged with the enemy on shore. The authors basic thesis is that both sides conduct of the war and japans decision to enter the war were steered in great measure by the racial and ethnic myths which the u. What are some good books about the reconstruction of japan. How did the us and japan repair relations after world war ii.
How did the us and japan repair relations after world war. Japanese history textbook controversies involve controversial content in one of the governmentapproved history textbooks used in the secondary education junior high schools and high schools of japan. An account of the trial and sentencing of japanese war criminals in 1948, by a u. A world war ii story of survival, resilience, and redemption by laura hillenbrand, with the old breed. This system was introduced to japan after world war ii to avoid government. A full understanding of chinajapan relations after world war ii requires knowledge of the nature of the relationship as it developed from the. President theodore roosevelt brokered a 1905 peace treaty in the russojapanese war that was favorable to japan. Japans relations with germany and italy during the second world war were. John dower talked about his book, embracing defeat. In an effort to discourage japanese militarism, western powers including australia, the united states, britain, and the dutch government in exile, which controlled the petroleumrich netherlands east indies, stopped selling iron ore, steel and oil to japan, denying it the raw materials needed to continue its aggressive activities in china and french indochina. After world war ii erupted 1939 in europe, japan signed a military alliance with germany and italy, sent troops to indochina 1940, and announced the intention of creating a greater east asia coprosperity sphere under japan s leadership.
When economics, strategy, and racial ideology meet. Sinojapanese relations since 1945 chinese studies oxford. In addition to authoring many books and articles about japan and the united. He adds that japans relations with its neighbors have been difficult for. The home front covers the activities of the civilians in a nation at war. The pacific half of world war ii, which began with japan s attack on the american naval base at pearl harbor, hawaii, on december 7, 1941, ended almost four years later when japan surrendered to americanled allies on september 2, 1945. Youve asked a question about a favorite genre of mine. Japanese history textbook controversies involve controversial content in one of the. The purpose of the board was to regulate the production and allocation of materials and fuel during world war ii in the united states. There was nothing left to burn to keep warm not even sticks. Nus press publishing in asia, on asia, for asia and the world. An excellent read from someone who really knows his subject and can write informatively. Nisei linguists and new perspectives on the pacific war.