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Japanese Destroyer Captain: Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Midway--The Great Naval Battles as Seen Through Japanese Eyes Paperback – Illustrated, August 15, 2011

by Tameichi Hara (Author), Fred Saito (Translator), Roger Pineau (Contributor)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,130 ratings
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This highly regarded war memoir was a best seller in both Japan and the United States during the 1960s and has long been treasured by historians for its insights into the Japanese side of the surface war in the Pacific. The author was a survivor of more than one hundred sorties against the Allies and was known throughout Japan as the Unsinkable Captain. A hero to his countrymen, Capt. Hara exemplified the best in Japanese surface commanders: highly skilled (he wrote the manual on torpedo warfare), hard driving, and aggressive. Moreover, he maintained a code of honor worthy of his samurai grandfather, and, as readers of this book have come to appreciate, he was as free with praise for American courage and resourcefulness as he was critical of himself and his senior commanders.
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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Naval Institute Press
  4. Publication date
    August 15, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    5.98 x 0.94 x 8.98 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1591143845
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1591143840
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Capt. Tameichi Hara was a destroyer squadron commander for most of the war aboard Shigure. Fred Saito translated and expanded the original manuscript, after spending more than eight hundred hours interviewing Hara. Roger Pineau added the footnotes and checked the accuracy of the battle accounts.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Naval Institute Press; Original edition (August 15, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1591143845
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1591143840
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.04 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.98 x 0.94 x 8.98 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,130 ratings

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Tameichi Hara

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
1,130 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very realistic, unbiased, and unique. They also find the content insightful, well-polished, and worth reading. Readers describe the storyline as compelling, refreshing, and exciting. They find the writing quality well-written and difficult to put down.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilityIntellectual levelWriting qualityContentStorylineRealismBook valueViewpoint
130 customers mention "Readability"130 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-done, and say it's an essential retelling of one man's experiences in WW2 and the Pacific War.

"Great book, period! Well worth the read." Read more

"...Conclusion: For the student of the War in the Pacific, this book is an essential...." Read more

"...It is entertaining and instructive to read of Hara's surprise and admiration of his foe, who had to learn the hard way but has finally improved and..." Read more

"...Despite these minor quibbles, this is an excellent book, very worthwhile for anyone interested in seeing the war play out from the losing side...." Read more

94 customers mention "Intellectual level"94 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very insightful, mentioning the author gives an excellent account of the destroyer engagements in WWII. They also appreciate the author's ingenuity, rationality, and outspokenness. Readers also say the book is unique for its viewpoint, highly motivated, and rational. They mention the book provides an excellent study on naval tactics as well as an insight into the experiences of a young, competent, and loyal Imperial Japanese.

"...perspective is that of a small vessel's captain, he provides excellent insight into his leaders and what he believes they should have done...." Read more

"...They were tough, seasoned, highly motivated, and - on the surface of it at least - contemptuous of death...." Read more

"...It also is equally fascinating to gain a perspective of the Japanese personal side of things, his feelings on the treatment and loss of his men,..." Read more

"...This is a tremendous recollection of events by Hara, and gives great insight into many facets of the Japanese navy, culture, and war effort as seen..." Read more

69 customers mention "Writing quality"59 positive10 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book well written, clear, and difficult to put down. They also say it displays the attitudes of the characters and is not sensationalistic.

"...The writing is direct and to the point, CAPT Hara doesn't mince words, if he has problems with something he calls it out...." Read more

"...(the book is an easy read; keep in mind also it is translated)..." Read more

"...The author, Tameichi Hara, writes with an exemplary objectivity. Something that has become a rare commodity in our age of political correctness...." Read more

"Very much enjoyed reading this account. Captain Hara was clear, concise and honest...." Read more

57 customers mention "Content"53 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's content extraordinary, clear-eyed, and objective. They also appreciate the frank bluntness and truth. They appreciate the good historical details and simple summary of available ships at different periods. Customers also mention that the author is a brave leader of men.

"...Hara provides a first person view of the actions with excellent details on what his ship (or ships) did along with significant contributions by crew..." Read more

"...The value of this work is the extraordinary first person detail and insight for its times, and on that basis, I rate it five stars." Read more

"...Told by a man of integrity, and objective honesty. Two the things that we now need more than ever." Read more

"...author, Tameichi Hara, a gifted ship handler, but he was also a brave leader of men...." Read more

38 customers mention "Storyline"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the storyline highly exciting, amazing, and fast paced. They also say the book moves quickly and the narrative appears honest and unbiased.

"...It is entertaining and instructive to read of Hara's surprise and admiration of his foe, who had to learn the hard way but has finally improved and..." Read more

"This is the amazing story of an unsinkable, indestructable Japanese destroyer captain during World War II...." Read more

"...throughout; but I did find Hara’s account palatable, informative & interesting." Read more

"I really enjoyed reading this book. The book moved quickly. The narrative appeared very honest and unbiased...." Read more

25 customers mention "Realism"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very realistic, frank, and fair in its descriptions. They also say it's fascinating, impressive, and unbiased. Readers also mention that the book is poignantly portrayed, authentic, and truthful.

"...There are nice photos and good maps that support the battle sequences...." Read more

"...Hara is mostly extremely unbiased, being highly critical of Japanese actions and leadership where necessary and praising those of his enemies where..." Read more

"...The book moved quickly. The narrative appeared very honest and unbiased...." Read more

"I found Hara's book to be very honest and showed a side of the Japanese that was not really publicised in western writings...." Read more

21 customers mention "Book value"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very valuable, a fine addition to any library, and a great account of Japanese destroyer Captain during WWII. They also say the rewards are worth the extra attention.

"...Nonetheless, the rewards are worth the extra attention.In 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy was the queen of the Pacific...." Read more

"...unnecessary Bushido brutality throughout; but I did find Hara’s account palatable, informative & interesting." Read more

"...of the sinking of the great battleship Yamato, this book is a great personal account by Captain Hara from his earliest years as the grandson of a..." Read more

"...Well worth the read and a great addition alongside books by U.S. Captains." Read more

13 customers mention "Viewpoint"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has a great perspective and interesting to see behind the curtain.

"...It is interesting to see behind the curtain of how the Japanese defeated themselves with arrogance and overreach...." Read more

"...during many naval battles of the Pacific War, it also provides a different vantage point on some of the major events during the carrier battles..." Read more

"Excellent counter viewpoint of many Pacific naval battles in wwll. A must read for any navy veteran of any era and experience." Read more

"...He provides a balanced view, pulling no punches, of events in WW2 in the South Pacific." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

John C Currin
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great book, period! Well worth the read.
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N. Trachta
5.0 out of 5 stars The Pacific Naval War thru Japanese eyes
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2008
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Japanese Destroyer Captain by CAPT Tameichi Hara

Japanese Destroyer Captain (JDC) is CAPT Hara's tale of his service in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). CAPT Hara divided his story into five parts; Born a Samurai, Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal, The Tokyo Express, Against the Odds, and the Last Sortie. Each section details CAPT Hara's experiences at that time and provides insight into the Japanese naval officer in WWII.

My Likes:
Captain Hara has a take no prisoners with his writing. He's very critical of Japan going to war against the US and is very critical of other naval officers actions (both Japanese and allied). While CAPT Hara's perspective is that of a small vessel's captain, he provides excellent insight into his leaders and what he believes they should have done. This is best shown in the Tokyo Express part where he discusses Yamamoto's actions in the South Pacific and failure to develop a schwerpunkt.
The battle descriptions are excellent. CAPT Hara provides a first person view of the actions with excellent details on what his ship (or ships) did along with significant contributions by crew members. Most (if not all) of the actions have maps showing the general movement of ships and the actions they took. Favorites for me were the Battle of the Java Sea, the Battle of Guadalcanal, and the Battle of Vella Gulf (there's an excellent tribute from CAPT Hara to the Americans during his description of Vella Gulf).
My last like is how critical CAPT Hara is of himself and his actions. Whether it's when he's dating a geisha, forgetting to pay his tab, or mistakes he made in battle, CAPT Hara is his own worst critic. All of this is focused to making him a better officer and person. It's excellent to see a person who's telling their story of themselves and admitting they made mistakes (how many of us could learn from this).

My Dislikes:
Only one, CAPT Hara ended his book with his rescue during Operation Ten Go. I wish he would have included what he did after this point for Japan (you can read it on Wiki) and after the war.

The Rating:
Five stars all the way. CAPT Hara wrote an excellent book describing his actions in WWII and being critical of the IJN's actions, his own performance, and that of his opponent. The writing is direct and to the point, CAPT Hara doesn't mince words, if he has problems with something he calls it out. Interestingly he also is prepared to acknowledge his mistakes in character judgment and his actions. There are some excellent things one can learn from this book, particularly how IJN officers felt about going to war with the US and a little on the early actions against the Chinese. There are nice photos and good maps that support the battle sequences. I highly recommend this book to people interest in WWII naval actions or those interested in seeing how a man leads others.
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Andrew
4.0 out of 5 stars A penetrating insight, but with caveats . . .
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2010
Verified Purchase
I first encountered this work thirty-odd years ago while doing some fairly extensive research on the early years of World War II in the South Pacific. My original copy of this book, now in an advanced stage of deterioration, was a paperback, and the work had been out of print for a long time; therefore I was very glad to find this hardback reprint.

It's important to remember that the author is a product of a different culture, and within the context of that culture, the product of a different time; inevitably his writing style reflects those differences. Readers who anticipate the smooth style of Robert Leckie, E.B. Sledge, or Samuel Eliot Morison may find Hara's narrative a bit slower, perhaps a little more taxing. Nonetheless, the rewards are worth the extra attention.

In 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy was the queen of the Pacific. The IJN had never lost a battle. It's seamen had been forged in a crucible of exacting, intense, even brutal training, in which the deaths of sailors were considered a regrettable but otherwise inconsequential matter. They were tough, seasoned, highly motivated, and - on the surface of it at least - contemptuous of death. Moreover, Japan had already been at war for some years, so their ranks included many veterans already blooded.

Hara's story as an officer, a leader of such men in the IJN, humanizes the face of the enemy somewhat, provides an alternative script to events we thought we already knew, but does not greatly illuminate the interested Western mind in those matters which have rendered the Eastern mind puzzling to us. This can be a little offputting; you know how we love explanations. But then, this is a combat officer's narrative, so maybe we shouldn't expect much instruction beyond the facts, as he understood them, surrounding combat . . .

Hara takes us into the workings of the IJN's command system and strategies. He is unstinting in his criticism of the ineffective policies that wasted time, lives, and materiel and which, in his view, cost Japan the war. He names names and leaves no sacred cow unassailed, up to and even beyond the nearly-never-assailed Isoroku Yamamoto. His descriptions of the counterproductive, steel-rigid behavioral codes that governed conduct among officers in Imperial Japan's military establishment leave us wondering . . .

But far from being merely a rant against foolishness and even outright incompetence in high places, his account is rich with first-person battle stories from a perspective a notch or two above the station of the ordinary seaman. Even in his conservative style, these accounts are riveting.

Unfortunately personal accounts are famously prone to errors, and Hara commits a couple of his own. I might note as an example his claim that his ship sank the USS Helena (CL50) at the pell mell naval action off Guadalcanal in the wee hours of November 13, 1942. Perhaps we should not judge Hara too harshly in this mistake; this was an intense, confused engagement that Samuel Eliot Morison described as "a vicious, hull-to-hull slugfest, the likes of which have not been seen since the days of sail."

(As it happens, my father was manning a 5-inch mount aboard Helena in the battle cited, and I am prepared to assert unequivocally that Helena survived the battle relatively unhurt. She continued to aggravate the Japanese until the Battle of Kula Gulf in July, 1943, where she actually was sunk. I am surprised that Hara's editors allowed such errors to pass without comment.)

I might further note that I feel Hara is rather parochial in his perception of certain events. He dismisses the infamous Japanese "Rape of Nanking" as having been over-reported and sensationalized, and - as freely as he castigates the tactical and strategic decisions of the high command - he never suggests that his nation was culpable in its imperialist ambitions or its treatment of other peoples. It seems his regret does not extend beyond the fact that Japan lost the war, and he never bothers himself with ethical questions concerning why they were at war in the first place.

Despite these few flaws, however, I have no reservations about recommending this book to those with an interest in the topic. History is a never ending voyage of discovery. Books like this add depth to our perceptions and justify the journey.

Conclusion: For the student of the War in the Pacific, this book is an essential. Even in its drawbacks it provides an example of what our Japanese enemy understood as truth in those days of bitter combat, and how he experienced his war.

The casual reader looking for a "rollicking good tale" might find himself frustrated by the unfamiliar pace of the narrative. Those looking deeper will likely find an engrossing, possibly even disturbing, read.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Aubert
5.0 out of 5 stars Une autre vision de la guerre du Pacifique
Reviewed in France on January 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
L'auteur décrit les opérations navales japonaises auxquels il a participé, l'euphorie initiale puis l'enlisement, le découragement et l'épuisement tant humain que matériel. Passionnant.
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Gaspar
5.0 out of 5 stars La guerra del Pacifico contada por un capitán de navío japonés.
Reviewed in Spain on October 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
Apasionante autobiografía de un capitán de destructor japonés. El autor es objetivo, y narra su historia con respeto a sus entonces enemigos los americanos. Hoy Japón y Estados Unidos son aliados lo que demuestra lo absurdo de una guerra con millones de muertos y heridos.
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Thomas Dowling
5.0 out of 5 stars Dated but a very interesting perspective
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
The style of writing is very dated but it’s very interesting indeed to get a Japanese perspective on events. I’ve read it back to back with Neptune’s Inferno and they are very informative as they give different perspectives on the same events.
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Crusader
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in Australia on July 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
Enjoyed this book as it gave a view of the Pacific war from a different view, the Japanese point of view. If interested in reading a Japanese point of view is worth a read.
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Marcus Castro
5.0 out of 5 stars Naval history at best
Reviewed in Brazil on September 18, 2014
Verified Purchase
If you're interested in the Pacific Theatre at WWII, or a naval afficionado, this is a great book for your collection. This is a first-person story of a japanese boy, born in a small village, that was able to join the Imperial Japanese Navy and, eventually, fight the americans.

The book is not all about war, as he tells us a lot about how it was hard to get into the Navy in the 1920s and 1930s. The author suffered a lot of phisical abuse during his training, something that in the West is clearly unacepptable. However, the IJN doctrine somehow involved phisical punishment, for any reason, to destroy a man's will and iniciative. Of course, when you're at war, having soldiers with iniciative is a great asset; maybe that was one of the reasons behind the pityful tactical record of the japanese at WWII (when japan was imaginative he was able to achieve great victories at Pearl Harbour or at the land invasion of Malaysia; when using almost useless banzai charges or repeating tactics the results were slim).

Mr. Hara was, and that's why I liked him, creative. He changed the japanese doctrine about the use of destroyer`s torpedos using acute observation and calculus. The Allies had enormous advantages over Japan in almost any technological or economic field during war (specially after 1942) , so it was a War where the final result was never a question. But Japan could hold a lead at SOME areas, as torpedos. Kudos to Mr. Hara for that (assuming that he's telling the truth, I'm not qualified to say he's not).

The title is not exactly correct: his part at Pearl Harbour and Midway is almost none. But he do take part in a lot of heavy fighting around the Solomon Islands, and as a captain he explain the importance of having a good, motivated crew. His destroyer, against all odds, survives several battles against an enemy vastly superior in numbers, supplies and with air cover.

This final battle, as a part of a heroic but clearly stupid kamikaze attempt on the fleet at Okinawa, is very dramatic. If this guy was an American, the last hours of Yamato and his fleet would be a movie much bigger than Alamo, Pearl Harbour and the Guns from Navarone combined, as one must admire how thousands of men face certain death only for the honor-sake. I personally don't agree with this kind of operation, as it doesn't have any significant strategical value, but this is a man who actually did it, and lived to tell.
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