American Shogun: A Tale of Two Cultures

by Robert Harvey

Book Overview

The author of A Few Bloody Noses confronts the engima of MacArthur's struggle against--and rebuilding of--twentieth-century Japan. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585676829
• ISBN13: 9781585676828
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A 'must' for any who would understand the evolution of modern political relations between the two na

During the years leading up to Pearl Harbor, Japan was becoming the most industrialized state in Asia while the US was emerging from its depression years and becoming a global power. Today's partnership between the two was forged by Pearl Harbor events and the reconciliation of the two nations afterward - a relationship cemented by the experiences of two leaders of the times: General MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito. AMERICAN SHOGUN: GENERAL MACARTHUR, EMPEROR HIROHITO AND THE DRAMA OF MODERN JAPAN surveys these two men and how a popular American hero and a Japanese monarch came together to bring two great nations together. It surveys events of war, peace, and eventual friendship and is a 'must' for any who would understand the evolution of modern political relations between the two nations. Diane C. Donovan, Editor California Bookwatch

American Control in Japan After WW II

Although this book gives a brief biography of MacArthur and of Hirohito its concentration is on the years after World War II when MacArthur was the undisputed leader of Japan. He was charged with bringing democracy to Japan and putting an end to the military control of the country. This period of changing the entire structure of a country was perhaps half successful. The ideas of democacy seem to have taken good hold. The great denial that the Japanese seem to have about their role, and the role of the Emperor in World War II, however, still continues. Part of MacArthur's dictates was the virtual elimination of the Japanese military forces. This has allowed their best scientists and engineers to be devoted to working on consumer goods while in America the 'best and the brightese' work on weapons. Perhaps the most important aspect of this book is something not in the book at all. This is the story of what we did in Japan. Did it teach us anything about how to make similar changes in Iraq.