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Midway: The Battle That Doomed Japan, the Japanese Navy's Story (Bluejacket Books) Paperback – 2001

by Mitsuo Fuchida (Author), Masatake Okumiya (Author), Thomas B. Buell (Introduction),

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This landmark study was first published in English by the Naval Institute in 1955 and was added to the Classics of Naval Literature series in 1992. Widely acknowledged for its valuable Japanese insights into the battle that turned that tide of war in the Pacific, the book has made a great impact on American readers over the years. Two Japanese naval aviators who participated in the operation provide an unsparing analysis of what caused Japan's staggering defeat.

Mitsuo Fuchida, who led the first air strike on Pearl Harbor, commanded the Akagi carrier air group and later made a study of the battle at the Japanese Naval War College. Masatake Okumiya, one of Japan's first dive-bomber pilots, was aboard the light carrier Ryujo and later served as a staff officer in a carrier division. Armed with knowledge of top-secret documents destroyed by the Japanese and access to private papers, they show the operation to be ill-conceived and poorly planned and executed, and fault their flag officers for lacking initiative, leadership, and clear thinking. With an introduction by an author known for his study of the battle from the American perspective, the work continues to make a significant contribution to World War II literature.

Midway: The Battle That Doomed Japan, the Japanese Navy's Story (Bluejacket Books)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...by knowing what went on aboard the Japanese warships, some of the mysteries of the battle can be explained." -- Baltimore Sun

"An enlightening account of the Japanese naval leaders of the time..." --Military Review

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Japanese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Series: Bluejacket Books
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Naval Institute Press (2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1557504288
ISBN-13: 978-1557504289
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 63 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #828,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1185 in Books > History > Asia > Japan
- #1853 in Books > History > Military > Naval
- #7459 in Books > History > Military > World War II

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The Japanese side of the battle -- with some errors

ByJGP821on August 11, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Although this is a translation of a book by a Japanese author, it often gets the Japanese side of the battle wrong. A comparison of this book with "Shattered Sword" by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully reveals that this book makes many factual errors -- possibly because it was written without access to the wartime staff studies and postwar analyses conducted by the Japanese navy. It's interesting to read the two books side-by-side, and to compare Fuchida's assertions with the extensively footnoted version of the same events given in "Shattered Sword."

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Fuchida tells his story

ByWilliam S. Grasson May 18, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is the account of the Battle of Midway, written by Mitsuo Fuchida, air group commander in Admiral Nagumo's carrier force that attacked Pearl Harbor. Fuchida's goal is to tell the Japanese side of the story of the battle and analyze the reasons for the crushing Japanese defeat at Midway. Fuchida suffered appendicitis immediately after the departure of Nagumo's force from home waters, and was therefore unable to fly during the battle. He was relegated to witnessing events from aboard the IJN carrier Akagi, Nagumo's flagship.

Fuchida's account of the events of that fateful morning of June 4, 1942 has been called into question, most notably by the recently published (2005) Shattered Sword, by Parshall and Tully. I have not yet read Shattered Sword, but plan to do so in the near future. Most objections I have seen raised by readers of Shattered Sword involve the presence or absence of IJN assault planes being refueled and rearmed on deck during the American attacks.

Details of the morning of June 4 notwithstanding, I was interested in Fuchida's analysis of the cause of Japan's defeat, and the assessment of Yamamoto's and Nagumo's judgement, and the other factors, ranging from over-dispersion of forces, battleship-centric traditionalists, down to flaws inherent in the Japanese national character.

Personal accounts of this nature, especially those told from the losing side, inevitably contain some self-justification and evaluation done by 20-20 hindsight. Even accounts told from the winning side are seldom free of those influences. If I were interested solely in just the facts of Midway then I would have gone straight to Shattered Sword and skipped the old books, like Fuchida, Lord and Prange. However, I am interested also in the historiography, that is, the evolution of how the story of Midway has been told, so I am reading them all. If necessary, after reading the others, I will amend this review.

33 comments 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

How not to win a naval engagement.

ByRobert N. Caseyon October 6, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I put this book on my reading list after reading Shattered Sword. I wanted to compare the details
of events presented by both sides. I was not disappointed. Mitsuo Fuchida and co author Masatake Okumiya
spare no criticism of the Japanese naval leaders and their approach to the planing and carrying out of
the Midway mission. I become more aware of the concept of the "Victory Disease" that the
Japanese naval personnel were alleged to be infected with which lead to their over confidence and eventual
defeat at Midway. For those that have an interest in the Battle of Midway, this is a must read.

0Comment 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Awesome

Bydavid w reinharton May 9, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This books is awesome and really learned
more about the battle of Midway. Would
recommend this book to anyone interested
in Naval History.

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Very Interesting

Byppg1949on March 13, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Very interesting to read the Japanese version of this historic naval battle. I recommend it to all WW2 Pacific naval buffs.

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View of Midway from 'other side of the hill'

ByKarun Mukherjion July 15, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Battle of Midway is often considered the turning point of Pacific war. This book co authored by two Japanese participants of the battle must be considered a naval classic.

It may look slightly outdated by modern standards . But core facts need no revision. Certain aspects ,however, demand elaboration . For instance, role played by intelligence in deciding the outcome of battle. US Navy was privy to Japanese plans on Midway thanks to its ability to read Japanese naval ciphers. Being forewarned is almost like forearmed. Consequently, Americans frustrated Japanese bid to seize Midway and push defense perimeter farther west. Authors have acknowledged the contribution of intelligence to American victory. However documentation to this effect is minimal.

The important thing is the phenomenal luck enjoyed by Americans. Lt. Cdr Wade McClusky was leading 33 Dauntless dive-bombers from USS Enterprise in a hunt for Japanese fleet..Where he expected to find enemy fleet ,he found nothing. Soon his planes would have to return because fuel was running low. But McClusky took a risk and upon an hunch decided to search farther west. This gamble paid off. Little later he saw the wake of a Japanese destroyer and decided to follow it. The enemy fleet hove into view. American dive-bombers swooped down to attack . The time 10.25 am June 4, 1942 and rest is history.

McClusky strike could not have come at a better moment. Nearly 100 planes crammed on Japanese carriers preparing for an assault on US fleet. All were loaded with high explosives and high- octane fuel. Bombs were loosely stacked on hangar decks and tiniest spark could turn them into a blazing inferno. However principal credit for American victory should go to torpedo-bomber pilots. It was they who first found Japanese carriers . Dive- bombers capitalized on the sacrifice of brave torpedo-bomber pilots from carrier USS Yorktown . Japanese combat air patrols drawn down to sea level while engaged in repelling latter's assault lacked sufficient time to regain altitude for intercepting the dive-bombers hurtling down to attack.

These are some interesting facts conspicuously absent in this book. To me, MI plan resembled a huge Cannae type manoeuvre at sea. Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo while engaged in action with US fleet will facilitate Admiral Yamamoto's main body to sneak from behind and strike at the American flank. Soon they would be joined by Rear Admiral Kakuji Kakuta's Second Air Fleet who will descend upon American rear returning from operations in Aleutian island chain. The result would be annihilation of US pacific Fleet.

Unfortunately for Japanese the battle did not unfold in this manner . MI plan was exceedingly complex based on false assumptions. Japanese anticipated American reaction only after they neutralized Midway. But sudden appearance of American fleet derailed their plans. Failure of Japanese naval planners to foresee such a contingency was deplorable. This speaks volumes of Tokyo's poor pre- battle reconnaissance ,intelligence gathering capabilities inadequacy of which prevented Adm Nagumo from exploiting his victory at Pearl Harbor.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Along with "Shattered Sword" this is my favorite book on the battle of Midway written by one ...

Byhudunit333on January 30, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Along with "Shattered Sword" this is my favorite book on the battle of Midway written by one of the key Japanese participants. Fuchida was aboard the IJN Akagi until she sunk. Don't pay attention to other reviewers who nit-pick very minor details. The first person nature of the account just can't be beat.

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Most recent customer reviews

Five Stars

I am satisfied.

Published 3 months ago by Thomas J. Gould

Look elsewhere for accuracy

I would start with "Shattered Sword" by Parshall and Tully if you really want to understand the battle from the Japanese perspective.Read more

Published 5 months ago by Colin A. Ware

A Great Book.

A great book. An essential part of any library belonging to serious scholars as well as history aficionados.

Published 6 months ago by Pincus R. Feldman

Five Stars

Fascinating look at one of America's greatest victories at sea, from the Japanese perspective.

Published 8 months ago by David A Turner

Five Stars

very satisfied

Published 9 months ago by Phillip E. Hoffman

Three Stars

Should be read with Battle of Midway by C Symonds

Published 1 year ago by Richard J Sloan

Midway

Excellent book about that battle.
Fuchida having been on one of the
carriers has written a very good book
from the Japanese side.

Published 1 year ago by Hal Rainey

War baby's delight; the heroes I grew up with.

Published 1 year ago by B. James

View from the other side.

It's nice to see what the other side thought about first Pearl Harbor and then Midway. Fuchida was a major figure in the attack. The book was well packaged and shipped promptly

Published on September 10, 2015 by John Matlock

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