Customer Reviews

Japan's Greatest Victory/ Britain's Worst Defeat

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Reference the excellent review by Glen Buchanan, "Why Japan fought the White Races of Asia in WWII?" ... which underscores Colonel Tsuji's claim that Japan went to war to "emancipate" the oppressed peoples of Asia. Tsuji further claims that "... Singapore was indeed the hinge of fate for the peoples of Asia ... and as if by magic, India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma, the Dutch East Indies and the Philippine Islands one after another gained independence overnight." I wonder ... and am unconvinced that emancipation was the real reason. Perhaps one of the reasons, but surely not the sole, nor primary, reason.

A bit of a personal background, please. I am a Nisei, second-generation Japanese-American, born (1938)and raised in Hawaii. My parents were from Hiroshima and Kyoto and were puzzled and angered that their country of origin would attack America and throughout Southeast Asia. They asked, and I have too, just "why did Japan go to war"?

Tsuji writes that "war must have a morality and a reason which is understandable at home and abroad." (pg 11) Later, he offered the reason, "the emancipation of the oppressed peoples of Asia" (pg 13-14). This explanation does not fly for me in face of: 1) Japan's militarist past, including the aborted invasion of the Korean peninsula in the 15th century; 2) the 1937 full-scale invasion of China; and, the attack on Pearl Harbor, a legitimized Territorial entity of the United States (albeit, the British "takeover" of the Hawaiian Islands in late 1890's.)

Furthermore, to add to my confusion, Tsuji makes reference to Mr. Tojo's statement in the International Court of Justice, "the war activities of Japan were really unavoidable for self-defense"; and, Tsuji writes, " I, too, firmly believe that it was a war without preparation and a war which was forced upon us." I wonder ... why would a nation go to battle for the emancipation of the oppressed without "preparation" and then say that "the war was forced upon us".

So ... what would I conclude? I would not nor take offense to the conclusions of my friend, Glen Buchanan, who is much more knowledgeable regarding these matters, but I believe he gives much too much credence to the claim of emancipation. Rather, I would suggest that Japan was as much, if not more, concerned with the "anti-Japanese economic measures of Great Britain and the United States".

Admittedly, much of my thinking stem from my military background ... a geo-military/political basis for why nations make war against each other. I get the sense from reading Tsuji's book that he was motivated by altruism (an unselfish interest in or care for the welfare of others ... other yellow-skinned people, in this case), and translating that altruism to justify the Japanese military actions in China, etc ... and simply the desire for expansionism for whatever the reason ... power, ego, protectionism, etc. The latter has often been used to justify attacking Pearl Harbor (extending the "borders" of Japan as far out as possible to protect the homeland).

I am still "wondering" ... and have come to accept the inevitable; that theories abound depending on one's perspective borne of many factors (i.e., race, ethnicity, economic/social influences, experiences, training, readings, etc.

Colonel Tsuji's book is worth reading ... especially if you are interested in military strategy and tactics.

Signing off ... Tom Tamura, Colonel USAF (Ret.)

Colonel Tsuji was an example of the field-grade officers who so influenced Japanese foreign policy in the 1930s. He literally wrote the book on the outbreak of December 1941--"Read This Only and the War Is Won," which appears as an appendix to this narrative history of the Malaya campaign. Tsuji later turns up in the Philippines, Guadalcanal, and China, where he earned immortality of sorts by cooking and serving the liver of an American pilot. He was a tactical genius and a monster, and this was only one of his campaigns, and only one of his books. Later he became a respected politician--until he mysteriously disappeared on a trip to China and perhaps Vietnam.

Colonel Tsuji, chief planner for the stunning Japanese victory in Malaya and Singapore, was an intelligent and brave soldier. He is also an unapologetic spokesman for the Japanese view of the war who insists the war was "forced upon" his country.
Conceding that the invasion of Thailand "seemed a breach of international good faith", "we had to disregard this aspect". Colonel Tsuji also disregards the tens of thousands of Thais murdered for insufficient appreciation of Japanese assistance, not to mention the POW's worked and starved to death after Japan's glorious victory.
Those unpleasant developments are not dealt with in the present work, but only the military aspects, which are covered in detail with good maps, photos, orders of battle, and appendices. No index.

(The numerical rating above is an ineradicable default setting within the format of this page. This reviewer does not employ numerical ratings.)

This is one of the rare books which narrates invasion of Malayan peninsula ,Singapore from the Japanese perspective. Colonel Masanobu Tsuji served in operations branch of General Tomoyuki Yamashita's Twenty fifth Army and was involved in the detailed planning to seize the above.

Firstly, author debunks Churchill's claim that Japanese had been preparing for this operation for a long time. Author argues fighting Western powers was secondary in Japan's scheme of priorities. Russia had always been Japan's traditional enemy. Troops fought Red Army in Siberia and Manchuria. Japanese soldiers were not accustomed to fighting in the tropics as they were no jungles in Japan. But pressure of events forced Tokyo to take 180 degree turn to the south. This was in response to economic warfare waged by Anglo Saxon powers. Halt in US oil exports to Japan hurt her economy badly.

Operational planning commenced only on January 1941 . Planning was executed with utmost urgency and impeccable efficiency attests to the skill of Japanese strategists. For the smooth conduct of operation it was essential to collect information on tropical areas. So a research department was set up called UNIT 82 which was based at Taipei, Formosa. It was given the task of collecting every conceivable information on tropical warfare. Research work engaged by the organisation was called Doro Nawa model.

Many people ungrudgingly shared their knowledge. An old sea dog gave information about coastal conditions,disembarkation methods, atmospheric conditions. Professor from Taiwan university gave lectures on tropical medicine and counter measures against Malaria. During the course of research Japanese found out Thailand was virtually defenceless . No Thai troops could be seen along the coast and government was corrupt , complacent. In Malaya, the situation was slightly different . Coastal defences were strong in Mersing but less strong elsewhere. British commonwealth troops were inadequately trained, poorly equipped and badly deployed. RAF appeared strong in paper. But most planes were obsolete unsuited for combat. In other words, area would not pose an obstacle to a determined assault. Then came a stunning information : Singapore fortress was strong formidable from the sea but its rear facing Johore province was defenceless. Not even Mr. Churchill realised this vulnerability.

British deliberately kept the area unfortified. According to British military thinking malaria-ridden ,mosquito-infested jungles laced with swamps, marshes formed an impenetrable barrier to any attacker planning to assault Singapore fortress from the north. British strategists further thought jungle would impede the movement of armour.These men were myopic because they overlooked the fact during German invasion of France and Low countries panzers threaded its way through hilly , wooded terrain of Ardennes in southern Belgium and Luxembourg before debouching into the plains of northern France.The incident drives home the lesson that against determined foe no terrain can form an obstacle.

Japanese launched an amphibious assault by landing in isthmus of Kra on December 8, 1941. Established air superiority after quickly seizing the airfields on northern Malaya. Author narration shows how rapidly Japanese troops worked its way down the Malayan peninsula. In the course they fought a series of short, sharp engagements with the retreating British:battles of Jitra river, Sims, Gemas, Bakri Muar. British defence lines were breached by turning movements from the jungle as well from the sea as the invaders consistently menaced British lines of retreat. Japanese frustrated attempts by British to demolish bridges which would have slowed down their advance. Soldiers riding on bicycles helped invading army surmount obstacles. Wherever bridges were blown infantry continued to advance wading across river carrying bicycles on their shoulders and use log bridges supported on shoulders by engineers standing on the stream.

Commomwealth troops exhausted, outfought crossed over to Singapore damaging the causeway linking the island to Malayan peninsula. Japanese army without any pause assaulted the northern sector of island which was poorly defended;rebuilt causeway and sent tanks across it. British attacks were broken up by dive bombing. 15th February all resistance ceased. Some, however, argue general Percival had sufficient men, supplies,war material. He could have prolonged resistance. And Yamashita almost the end of logistical tether would have buckled. By this time British were terribly demoralised and had no will to continue resistance.

Thus Yamashita scored biggest triumph in his life and his nation won biggest victory in her history. Laid low an island fortress which for years was prepared at a great cost to withstand attack and siege. In Berlin German High Command was stunned, for it expected that capture of Singapore would take five and half divisions and eighteen months . But Yamashita achieved within two months with just two divisions.For a long time British propaganda claimed Singapore to be an impregnable fortress. Japanese success showed the claim was absurd.

Fall of Singapore was an irretrievable blow to British pride and arrogance. A turning point in history ,for it hastened the collapse the of British empire. India, Pakistan,Ceylon, Phillipines, Dutch East Indies gained independence. As author aptly puts it, reduction of the Singapore fortress was a 'hinge of fate' for peoples of Asia.

An excellent account of the invasion of Malaya and the fall of Singapore as seen through the eyes of one of the men who planned it. Answers many of the questions as to how the "impregnable fortress" of Singapore fell so quickly

Colonel Masanobu Tsuji writes a compelling book on the reasons why Japan fought the White Race and their Asian camp followers during World War ll. Colonel Tsuji's accounts are realistically portrayed and sheds some light on the thinking of Japan during the Pacific and South Asia/Singapore Campaign:

Colonel Tsuji writes--"Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, [December 7, 1941 ], the White Race ruled and subjugated the following Yellow and Brown races of people within Asia:

"350 Million Indians", rule by--500 Thousands White race of people, [British].
"60 Millions South/East Asians", ruled by--200 Thousands Dutch.
"23 Million Indochinese", ruled by--20 Thousands French.
"6 Million Malayans" ruled by--10 Thousand British.
"13 Million Filipinos", ruled by--10 Thousand Americans.

Total: 452 Million Asian and Brown people were ruled by 740 Thousand White Race of people.

The Final Blow to White Rule in Asia.

Colonel Tsuji's book describes how Japan believed that they were embarked upon a great mission which called upon Japan, as representative of all people of the Far East, to deal a resolute and final blow to centuries of European aggression in Asia. In this connection, Colonel Tsuji's book tell us how Japan entered upon a noble and solemn undertaking which changed the course of World History.

To motivate its troops, Japan told them that:--

"Once you set foot on the enemy's territories you will see for yourselves, only to clearly, just what this oppression by the White man means". Imposing splendid buildings look down onto the tiny thatched huts of natives. Money, squeezed from the blood of Asians maintains these small White Minorities in their luxurious mode of life,or disappears to the respected home countries. These White People may expect, from the moment they are issue from their mothers' womb, to be allotted a score or so of natives as their personal slave. "Is This Really God's Will"?

The Results of my review of Colonel Masanobu Tsuji's book has established that:

Although Japan lost the war, her actions weakened the power of the Ruling White Races in Asia and showed the Yellow/Black/Brown Races of People of the world, that the White Man could be beaten and driven out of Asia as decision making elites. In this connection, the Asians and other Colored Races of the world later drove the White man out of Indo-China, Vietnam, Dien Bien Phu, Indonesia, India, North Africa, and check-mated the White Man in North Korea. These freed Countries were able to help Black Africa with guns and training for their final push for freedom from the White domination.

Without Japan's war efforts this could not have happen and without Colonel Masanobu Tsuji's book we would not have understood the specific objectives of Japan's actions in the Second world war. The main portion of Colonel Tsuji's book discribes the capture of The City Fortress of Singapore.

By the end of the 100 day Singapore campaign, a British Empire army of 130,000 had been wiped off the map by a Japanese force of 60,000 men. The worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history,----"Winston Churchill's, Second World War Memoirs",the fourth volume, "The Hinge of Fate", which was published serially in Japan in 1951.

"Western Civilation itself was successfully challenged; the white races were obliged to remember their minority status in the world as a whole".See Rand McNally, Atlas of world History, Edited by--R.R. Palmer, Copyright: MCMLVll. [1957]. Volume--"The World in The Mid-Twentieth Century".

Accordingly, I highly recommend this book as an excellent source on the history of World War ll, Pacific Theater.