Customer Reviews

American Shogun: General MacArthur, Emperor Hirohito and the Drama of Modern Japan

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Although the subtitle implies the book is about the intertwined fates of MacArthur and Hirohito, and there are biographical elements to it, the book is really a comparison between Japan's pre-war and post-war culture and power structures. Essentially this is a narrative history of the internal and external politics than led to Japanese aggression against Russian and China, which led ultimately to Japan's attacks across the rest of Asia and against the United States in December 1941.

The author argues that Japan's internal politics, economic concerns, and the power dynamic of the Emperor, the military, the bureaucracy, and the zaibatsu led to its wars against virtually all of its neighbors. He goes on to argue that after the war, despite MacArthur's best efforts, that same Japanese power structure survived and still exists today. And it's a power structure that believes it was the victim, that its invasions of its neighbors were justified, and that Japan was not militarily defeated but that it had to surrender because the US had nuclear weapons.

Another very interesting point the author makes is the amazing difference in the way the allies treated the Japanese after the war vs. Germany. Aside from a few show trials, there were no major war crimes efforts in Japan. At the same time, while Germany was subject to a rigorous de-Nazification program, the Japanese power structures were left intact.

This is an excellent, easy to read narrative history that puts everything in context. It begins with a brief history of Japan, especially covering the period between the time Japan was forcefully exposed to the world, through to WWII. It then has an overview of the war itself, followed by and interesting analysis of post-war Japan.

If you like WWII, you will want to read this book in order to understand the context of Japan's aggression.

This is a very competent and well-researched biographical history of General Douglas MacCarthur and Emperor Hirohito, who between them largely defined the US post-war occupation of Japan, The book not only tells their story but also that of the events that shaped them. A lot of research has been put into this, and the social and political history is totally compelling. The US side is interesting and informative. The Japanese part, a subject most English speaking readers will be unfamiliar with, is even better.

The only niggle I have is that is that the comparison between the two men does come over as rather forced. The exploits of the larger-than-live MacCarthur are already well known, whereas Hirohito was a rather colourless and ineffectual individual. In short, there's not much more to say about the one, and not really much worth saying about the other.

... as an alternative title. Mr. Harvey has done it again (I previously read his "War of Wars" about Britain vs. Napoleon) and has woven together two very different lives that lead to the attempt to change Japan after WWII- a very interesting read in this era of Iraq and Afghanistan- what can and cannot be done by an outside force in a distant country. A very good read.