The Battle For Okinawa [Paperback]

Hiromichi Yahara (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0471180807 | ISBN-13: 978-0471180807 | Edition: 1

Critical acclaim for The Battle for Okinawa

"An indispensable account of the fighting and of Okinawa's role in the Japanese defense of the home islands." --The Wall Street Journal

"A fascinating, highly intelligent glance behind the Japanese lines." --Kirkus Reviews

"The most interesting of the 'last battle of the war' books." --The Washington Post.

"A fascinating insider's view of the Japanese command." --Dallas Morning News

COLONEL HIROMICHI YAHARA was the senior staff officer of the 32nd Japanese Army at Okinawa.

A Military Book Club Main Selection

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First published in Japan in 1973, this personal account of the last great battle of WWII is from the viewpoint of the Japanese Army officer in charge of plans and operations. Yahara reveals how his battle plan, based on a strategy of attrition, was overruled by Gen. Mitsuru Ushijima in favor of a wasteful offensive policy ("absurd suicide tactics"). He describes how orders for retreat-and-attack forays were developed and issued and explains how the site of the spectacular last stand was chosen. When defeat by the Americans was perceived as inevitable, Ushijima ordered a final charge, delivered a formal speech and submitted to the expected ritual beheading. All this is vividly described by the observant Yahara. Disinclined toward suicide himself, he evaded capture for a while by mingling with refugees but was eventually arrested by the Americans. His independence of mind illuminates this interesting narrative; his interpretive comments on the workings of the high command in a series of underground headquarters will be of interest to students of the military art. Gibney, president of the Pacific Basin Institute, was one of the intelligence officers who interrogated Yahara after his capture. Illustrations. Doubleday Military Book Club main selection.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Translated from Yahara's 1973 memoir, Okinawa Kessen, this book offers the Japanese perspective on the Pacific war's greatest land, air, and naval battle, the Battle for Okinawa, April-July 1945. Yahara was the senior staff officer of the Japanese 32nd Army defending Okinawa and the only senior officer to survive the battle. He was the operational architect of the Japanese battle of attrition, which ultimately cost a quarter-million Japanese, Okinawan, and American casualties in World War II's last great battle. Written 28 years after the war, this book provides penetrating insight into the Japanese high command's strategy and decision-making process in its final, futile defense of the home islands. Most riveting is Yahara's account of his survival and escape attempts and his disgrace for not committing the customary suicide at the battle's end. Recommended for public libraries.
William D. Bushnell, U.S. Marine Corp., ret., Sebascodegan Island, Me.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 7, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471180807
• ISBN-13: 978-0471180807
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT ACCOUNT FROM THE OTHER SIDE, June 11, 2001

By 

Jeffrey Urbanski (APO, AP USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Battle For Okinawa (Paperback)

I bought this book because I am stationed on Okinawa with the US Air Force. I was drawn... in by the first few pages and could not put it down. Colonel Yahara is candid in his telling of the Japanese perspective and strategy of the battle and masterfully conveys what he felt as well as what he saw. It is a heartfelt read; despite being an account written by "the enemy" (at the time, anyway), you can empathize with Col Yahara and envy him for his bravery. Col Yahara does an exemplary job illustrating the Japanese dedication to victory. The book comes complete with maps to help illustrate the direction of battle (which I also used to visit battle sites). I do not look at Okinawa the same way. It is a must read book for anyone interested in the Pacific war and especially for anyone stationed in Okinawa.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Standing on that hill, March 29, 2001

By 

Stalin Somarriba (Okinawa, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Battle For Okinawa (Paperback)

I read some of the reviews for this book and some were great but others put the book down...I'm a U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa and I have to say I really enjoyed reading the book...When I get a chance I will read it again...I have to disagree when others put the book down, and this is my reason: Being in Okinawa I visited some of the battle sites and all I could do was remember some parts of the book...I visited that hilltop where General Ushijima stood as the U.S. landed on the beaches, and it was such an unexplainable feeling as i pictured the words in my mind...If you have a chance to visit Okinawa, books like these will have an impressionable impact on you...After reading a few books on the Battle of Okinawa, this is probably my number 1.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A View from the Japanese Side, August 31, 1999

By 

K. Patton "K. Patton" (Houston, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Battle For Okinawa (Paperback)

While not a full account of the battle, it gives some insight from the Japanese perspective. Drawn primarily from interrogation reports, the author helps Yahara explain to his countrymen and the world how and why he survived a battle that most of his troops did not. Troops who while digging cave fortifications felt in one soldier's words "as if we were digging our own graves". It helps fill in some of the gaps in the historical account of THE largest, the most savage, most forgotten and most protracted battle in the Pacific war. One whose 54,000 American, 100,000 Japanese and 200,000 Okinawan casualties makes all other better known Pacific battles pale in comparison.