This looks interesting, a new book on the Imperial...

This looks interesting, a new book on the Imperial Japanese military.

With Japan's Imperial Army: Its Rise and Fall, 1853–1945, the eminent scholar Edward J. Drea caps an impressive career devoted to the study of the history of Japanese military affairs. The recipient of the Society for Military History's Samuel Eliot Morison Prize for lifetime achievement, Drea is the author of MacArthur's ULTRA: Codebreaking and the War Against Japan, 1942–1945 (1992), among other works. For his latest book, he relied primarily on Japanese sources. "Twenty-five years ago, younger Japanese historians dismissed the military as a robotic tool enslaving the nation for its imperialistic ventures," Drea, who is fluent in Japanese, says. "Now they're much more sophisticated, and see it as an integral part of society exemplifying both the best and the worst of Japan."

What drew you to this topic?
Looking at Japanese performance in World War II, you have to ask: Why would they do that? Why fight to the death? Why use kamikaze aircraft? So I looked at how Japan's army evolved, how its leaders thought, how its doctrines developed, culminating for the worse in 1940 and 1941 with decisions that were really unrealistic. Yet, in the context of being a unique nation led by a divine emperor, they made perfect sense.

How so?
The Japanese army stressed intangibles in battle. They realized they were qualitatively inferior to any potential major opponent. They knew the Soviet Union outnumbered them in armored cars, tanks, airplanes, divisions. They decided that the Japanese fighting spirit was a force multiplier: Japanese infantrymen could defeat Soviet armor. They realized the United States had a ten-to-one production advantage, but believed these intangible factors could somehow offset it.

Why would they believe that?
After the Russo-Japanese War, the army made a determined effort to create this doctrine that Japan is endowed by the gods with special qualities, making it invincible. They carried this forward through 40 years of indoctrination and education in modern myths like Bushido.

What was Hirohito's role?
From the Meiji Restoration on, the army always appealed to the throne for its legitimacy and authority. Hirohito was mainly an arbiter. He attempted to influence policy—asking questions, requesting studies. He comes into his own with the surrender. The civilian cabinet is unable to agree; he steps forth and says, "We will end it." But throughout the war, he has an ambiguous position. He's not an active policymaker. He's fairly well informed about the various fronts and what's going on at home. So he becomes a locus of information, a centerpiece of Japan's total effort.

How involved was he?
I don't want to make him sound like a fighting general. But since the 1990s, there's been a great deal of fresh information about him. It's clear he knew much more than was popularly credited to him. If the military needs to make a major decision, they have to request his approval. But he doesn't have a veto.

Was he opposed to the war?
Everybody agreed they wanted this war, including Hirohito, despite his apologists arguing he was a man of peace. He was nervous about going to war, and very conscious of the consequences of defeat. But he felt it was time for Japan to stand up and do what it had to do to make its place in the world. They all knew exactly what Western imperialism had done in China and the rest of Asia. No one wanted it to happen to Japan.

Did the army and navy cooperate?
The relations between the Japanese army and navy high commands made American inter-service rivalry look like complete agreement. They wouldn't even share their operational plans. The army was astounded to find that the navy had a full timetable laid out for an attack on Pearl Harbor five months before it happened. Of course, the army didn't tell the navy what it was doing in China.

See:

Edward J. Drea on Japan's Imperial Army » HistoryNet

Has anyone else read it? If so what is the verdict?

 

This looks really good Clint. Amazon has it posted for $25.16 and I added it to the list. Will let you know how I liked it. There is a book called sea of thunder by Evan Thomas. It takes you into the military naval schools and touches on the late 1800s Japanese training and how Japan respected and studied western naval officers like Lord Nelson. Great book one that you can't put down until you have finished it.

 

Now you guys have got me thinking about finding both of them if possible at my library. I'm sure that between the local and the two college libraries I'll be able to either find the pair, or get "interlibrary loan" exchanges set up. As an graduate of MSU-B I have full privileges in both college libraries at no charge. So now I've got to get off my duff and go see if I can get them BOTH!

 

Lou, one of the things I thought was incredible was the beatings that went on in Japan's military schools. Also, it touched upon a lot of Japans military leaders that I never even heard of before. Clint, I guarantee you will like this book.

 

This interview was in this months WWII History magazine. I am going to pick this one up on payday to check out.