Discover librarianselected research resources on japan, world war ii period from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. The japanese military before and during world war ii committed numerous atrocities against civilian and military personnel. I chose japanese perspective on the war, since we americans hardly hear their side of the story. Fortunately, there is no shortage of worthwhile books about the pacific war. The unparalleled japanese perspective provided by the japanese navy in world war ii made the book essential reading for students of the pacific war when first published in the 1960s. The controversies primarily concern the japanese nationalist efforts to whitewash the actions of the empire of japan during world war ii. Beyond those two excellent movies, theres a plethora of japanese wwii movies. Aug 15, 2019 when did world war 2 start global perspective if answering for a secondary education class, the book answer for when world war 2 started is when the germans invaded poland on. Oct 04, 2012 war and peace the japanese perspective on ww2 added by dave on october 4, 2012 vicky and i had been dying to get into a conversation about wwii with some japanese, but it was always difficult to segue into the conversation, and, frankly, most peoples english wasnt sophisticated enough for that complex of a conversation.
World war ii and the japanese in the prewar philippines. The japanese troops were made out to be monsters and that point of view is still held by many people today, largely because of the terrible way the japanese treated prisoners of war. When looking from a systems perspective, it is easy to overlook the fact that hitler did stand at the top and that. While few have gone so far as to posit both allies and axis as moral equivalents, it is commonly acknowledged that winston churchill tolerated massive civilian destruction to preserve the british empire continue reading the good war and japanese america. This one is not by a japanese author, but contains a fascinating fiction story about a young japanese woman in the aftermath of wwii. Not only from the germans perspective, but one of the best war movies ever. The japanese navy in world war ii and millions of other books are available for amazon. Its a wonderful book and ill not just recommend it, ill plead for it to be read.
Japanese society at war as the first international conflict of the twentieth century, the russojapanese war attracted much contemporary global interest. The second world war and japanese historical memory in comparative perspective edited by takashi inoguchi and lyn jackson. Great britain and france responded by declaring war on germany. When you look at mein kampf and the secret book and look at how events unfolded, you can see. The pacific theater in world war ii has always intrigued me, perhaps because my grandfather served there, but i never heard any stories from him, as he rarely talked about. 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. American military history 166 to establish a defensive perimeter stretching from the kurile islands south through wake, the marianas, the carolines, and the marshalls and gilberts to rabaul on new britain. The disruption of homes, the threat from aerial attacks and the loss of. When the successful campaign against poland failed to produce the desired peace accord with britain, he ordered the army to prepare for an immediate offensive in the west. Following the release of clint eastwoods epic film letters from iwo jima, which was nominated for the oscar for best picture, there has been a renewed fascination and interest in the japanese perspective on world war ii. I agree with the other answer, many japanese people especially the younger generations are pacifists and feels strongly against the repetition of wars because of ww2, but the reason behind it is different from what many people may think. Here are a few of my suggestions starting with my favorite book.
This is why edgar and ran ying porter hope their new book, japanese reflections on world war ii and the american occupation, will amplify the. Good historical perspective, too short for authors obvious talent to impart information. Contents introduction takashi inoguchi and lyn jackson. Wwii from the japanese perspective book talk librarything.
Im writing a paper in school, and the topic had to be about world war ii. The pacific theater in world war ii has always intrigued me, perhaps because my grandfather served there, but i never heard any stories from him, as he rarely talked about it. Germanys war strategy was assumed by hitler from the first. The empire of japan entered world war ii by launching a surprise offensive which opened with the attack on pearl harbor at 7. Can anyone recommend any good books by japanese authors that talk about the experience of japanese soldiers in the war or discuss about the wars effect on the japanese population. The disruption of homes, the threat from aerial attacks and the loss of fathers to war had a huge effect on them emotionally.
This is the first fulllength study to examine the war from the perspective of its impact on japanese society, and sheds new light on its implications for modern japan. The japanese barbarity towards chinese civilians was remarkable even by the standards of the. Most japanese including those in the philippines welcomed the second world war, and many japanese residents in the philippines may have seen the war as a culmination of the long years of toil they had put in the countrys lands and natural resources. William paterson university history professor theodore cook talks about his book, japan at war. For some time now, the notion of world war ii as the good war has been disputed and complicated by the scholarly community. World war ii is sometimes thought of as primarily a fight against nazi germany. Japanese officers offer their personal perspectives of the pacific war. By the end of world war ii, there were over 850,000 japanese in korea and more than 2 million in china, most of whom were farmers in manchukuo the japanese had a plan to bring in 5 million japanese settlers into manchukuo. 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.
It looks like theres an issue with javascript in your browser. Japanese society at war as the first international conflict of the twentieth century, the russo japanese war attracted much contemporary global interest. Well, there are quite a few japanese wwii movies, which depict the war from japans perspective im not just talking about letters from iwo jima or tora. Told from both japanese and american perspectives, this thrillin. This pathbreaking work of oral history is the first book ever to capturein either japanese or englishthe experience of ordinary japanese people during the war. The war in europe ended with germanys surrender on may 7, 1945. A captured japanese diary from the pacific theater summer 20, vol. A general introduction to the subject is in james oneill and robert krauskopf eds. Over the course of seven hours there were coordinated japanese attacks on the u. Most japanese including those in the philippines welcomed the second world war, and many japanese residents in the philippines may have seen the war as a culmination of the long years of toil they had put in. A critical perspective on japans role in world war ii, is an important addition to the study of japanese history. Youve asked a question about a favorite genre of mine.
Japanese reflections on world war ii and the american. Effects of world war ii on japan world war ii drastically affected the japanese culture, economics, and politics. Japans gigantic second world war gamble the guardian. World war ii started in europe, but spread throughout the world.
This oral history is the first book to capture in either japanese or english the experience of ordinary japanese during the war. Arrogance and racial discrimination towards the japanese had plagued japanesewestern relations since the forced opening of the country in the 1800s, and were again a major factor for the deterioration of relations in the decades preceeding world war 2. Problem is, i cant find any websites or information on their point of view. Colonel hiromichi yaharas service included stints as an exchange officer in the usa and as an intelligence operative, and he served on genera. German government branches during world war 2 stack exchange. Reconsidering wwii, from the japanese perspective the. Japanese women and the transnational feminist movement before world war ii also connects the development of international contacts with the particular contributions of ichikawa fusae to the suffrage movement, ishimoto shidzue to the birth control movement, and gauntlett tsune to the peace movement by touching on issues of poverty, prostitution. Home browse history asian history japanese history japan, world war ii period. This is the first fulllength study to examine the war from the perspective of its impact on japanese society.
From rabaul the perimeter would extend westward to northwestern new guinea to encompass the indies, malaya, thailand, and burma. Memorial for japan in world war ii at during the 1930s and through world war ii, the japanese military controlled the government of japan. More than merely a sideshow to events happening in europe, the far east was the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the war, driven largely by japans ambition to become a colonial power. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases.
This seems a rather obscure subject, but almost all of the armies that the allies fought against during world war ii were annihilated, to the point of just a few survivors. Fires on the plain about the japanese occupation in the philippines and the degradation of men as war endures shusaku endo. The war in the pacific ended when japan surrendered on september 2, 1945. No book has ever really tried to paint the japanese during the war as ordinary soldiers and human beings with the same fear and vulnerabilities as everyone else. Another one, not written by a japanese, is war without mercy. My favourite second world war set book is empire of the sun by jg. National archives which have been canvassed for this book are the records of the war departments g2 intelligence section and the vast assemblage of materials gathered for the postwar trials of war criminals. Autobiographies and private memories in japan and germany petra buchholz. It goes into great detail about the racial and cultural aspects of the war. What are the best childrens books on the second world war. Aug 29, 2018 heres an english language story by a fairly senior military japanese survivor of the battle of okinawa. Indeed, i would like to see a book gathering stories of the idealists on the japanese side, the ones who fought for independence and risked their lives to. On the various categories of captured records, a fine place to start is robert wolfe ed. Im looking for a list of books published in english about world war two, written from the japanese perspective.
Children in world war 2 the effect of war on children, particularly young children cannot be measured but it would be hard to say anything other than the effect on their lives was monumental. The good war and japanese america american studies journal. Polish bofors aa gun and a bombed column of polish army. When looking from a systems perspective, it is easy to overlook the fact that hitler did stand at the top and that the nazis had an ideology or worldview. Im not just talking about letters from iwo jima or tora. Is there a movie on ww2 from the nazi germans perspective. Sep 07, 2009 more than merely a sideshow to events happening in europe, the far east was the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the war, driven largely by japans ambition to become a colonial power. World war ii and the japanese in the prewar philippines by.
The volume of archives surviving from world war ii is enormous. Japanese women and the transnational feminist movement. The authors have collected a series of oral histories from japanese participants in the second world war who fought in burma, and this book is an edited collection of these histories. War japanese soldiers finally tell their story hell in the pacific from vivisection to cannibalism richard james havis published 4.
Arrogance and racial discrimination towards the japanese had plagued japanese western relations since the forced opening of the country in the 1800s, and were again a major factor for the deterioration of relations in the decades preceeding world war 2. 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. The second world war is a narrative history of world war ii by the british historian antony beevor. As a result, we were extremely excited to visit the yushukan museum in downtown tokyo, which is a full history on japanese aggression including world war 2. However, this book is more importantly, a tribute to its author, japanese historian, saburo ienaga. Pearl harbour pacific theater iwo jima battle for the solomon. Unlike germany and italy, japan did not have a dictator, but an oligarchic and militaristic system ruling the country. While it wasnt a personal perspective, it was, at the very least, a government sanctioned opinion, as well as a museum, which has been accused of revisionism and glorifying japanese aggression, so it was guaranteed to be interesting. Japan after world war i a valuable ally during world war i, the european powers and the u. Japan is considered one of the most important and powerful.
War a collection of oral histories of soldiers and others involved in world war 2 only this time we hear from the japanese perspective. Have any movies made from the nazi germans perspective. The pacific war, 19411945, francis pike challenges the standard interpretations of the causes of the war. I had never really thought about what life must have been like for japanese civilians following the war before, but this book made me want to learn more. The enemy below here is one of the best war movies ever, a chess game of cat and fish not mouse duration. This pathbreaking work of oral history is the first book ever to capture. Want to learn more about world war ii from a different angle. The book starts with the japanese invasion of manchuria in. World war ii in the pacific was caused by a number of issues stemming from japanese expansionism to problems relating to the end of world war i. Japanese perspective and is certain to revolutionize how we think of the war in. World war ii started in 1939 when germany invaded poland. I also may have included my translation of a poem by hakushu about gandhi which speaks to the idealistic side of that war.
Japan has changed a great deal since world war ii, and doesnt like to talk. Among the several books about the japanese american internment published in the past year e. The first sinojapanese war 189495 marked the real emergence of imperial japan. Dec 06, 2017 a captured japanese diary from the pacific theater summer 20, vol.
All these books are currently available on in the u. Japan world war ii patriotic song book english and japanese nationalism. Mar 17, 2002 war japanese soldiers finally tell their story hell in the pacific from vivisection to cannibalism richard james havis published 4. A novel about the navajo marines of world war ii by joseph bruchac throughout world war ii, in the conflict fought against japan, navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the u. Are there any ww2 books in the perspective of a japanese soldier. Polish artillery in battle of bzura 1939 after an air attack. When did world war 2 start global perspective if answering for a secondary education class, the book answer for when world war 2 started is when the germans invaded poland on. During the world war 2, who has been promoted quickest from a soldier to the general in japan. Throughout world war ii, in the conflict fought against japan, navajo.
Dont miss these 100 must read world war ii books, including fiction, ya, history. All the movies ive seen are either from the allies perspective or some are from japanese perspective. Are there any ww2 books in the perspective of a japanese. Vicky and i had been dying to get into a conversation about wwii with some japanese, but it was always difficult to segue into the conversation, and, frankly, most peoples english wasnt sophisticated enough for that complex of a conversation. The japanese barbarity towards chinese civilians was remarkable even by. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite. The guy is the source on the japanese perspective and experience in the pacific war and has written an excellent book, embracing defeat, detailing the postwar recovery and subsequent economic rise of japan. Cook go from the japanese attacks on china in the 30s to the japanese home front during the inhuman this deeply moving book studs terkel portrays the. Its surprise attack on pearl harbor on december 7, 1941, prior to a declaration of war and without warning killed 2,403 neutral military personnel and civilians and wounded 1,247 others. Japans decision to launch a war against the united states is masterfully.
Aug 19, 2015 japans decision to launch a war against the united states is masterfully recounted in eri hottas japan. Japans decision to launch a war against the united states is masterfully recounted in eri hottas japan. This book presents an unforgettably honest account of the effects of world war ii and the ensuing american occupation in japans oita prefecture, from the. First published in 1960, this national book award winner and new york times bestseller traces the rise and fall of nazi germany from adolf hitlers birth in 1889 to the end of world war ii in 1945. Well, there are quite a few japanese wwii movies, which depict the war from japans perspective. Jul 29, 2017 this is why edgar and ran ying porter hope their new book, japanese reflections on world war ii and the american occupation, will amplify the quiet voices in oita prefecture, particularly.
When he found himself out of a job, he wrote this book and got even deeper into trouble. Heres an english language story by a fairly senior military japanese survivor of the battle of okinawa. Cold war history of japan 19451989 this category has the following 10 subcategories, out of 10 total. Also if youre into reading academic papers and that sort of thing, anything written by john dower is an excellent place to start. The effect of war on children, particularly young children cannot be measured but it would be hard to say anything other than the effect on their lives was monumental. List of books and articles about japan, world war ii period. Japan after world war ii made the japanese adapt their ancient culture to. Washington lester tenney endured three hellish years as a japanese prisoner during world war ii, but with the passing of decades and repeated visits. War japanese soldiers finally tell their story hell in. This book presents an unforgettable upclose account of the effects of world. Japanese reflections on world war ii and the american occupation. A critical perspective on japans role in world war ii saburo ienaga ienaga was a teacher who got himself into trouble by telling the truth as he saw it about japans conduct of the war.