Soldiers of the Sun: The Rise and Fall of the Imperial Japanese Army

by Meirion Harries, Susie Harries

Overview

The authors trace the origins of the Imperial Army back to its samurai roots in 19th-century Japan to tell the story of the rise and fall of this extraordinary military force. "Analyzes the military legacy of the Imperial Army and assesses moral repsonsibility for its excesses".--Kirkus. Photos.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780679753032
Publisher:	Random House Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/01/1994
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	569
Sales rank:	468,677
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Meirion and Susie Harries began their writing partnership in 1979 and have since co-authored six books, as well as articles on Japanese security and environmental policy for English and Japanese newspapers. This is their second book on Japanese history. They live in England.

Table of Contents

	Preface and Acknowledgments	vii
Part I	Creating the Imperial Army, 1868-1890
1	Samurai and Squint-Eyed Barbarians	3
2	Emperor and Army	18
3	The End of the Samurai	26
4	The Nation in Arms	35
5	A Modern Army Emerges	43
Part II	The Army at War, 1890-1918
6	Line of Advantage: The First Sino-Japanese War	53
7	The Russian Menace	64
8	War with Russia	74
9	The Army under Attack	94
10	Falling Back: The Great War	109
Part III	In the Age of Total War, 1918-1932
11	Rethinking War	119
12	The Great Divide	126
13	Counterattack	135
14	The Hard Chief and the Visionary	145
15	Turning Sour in Shanghai	155
Part IV	Divided Army, 1932-1937
16	The Officer Corps Divides	167
17	The Spur to Action	176
18	The February 26 Revolt	183
19	To the Threshold of Power	189
Part V	The China War, 1937-1941
20	Marco Polo Bridge	201
21	To the Gates of Nanking	210
22	A Carnival of Death	221
23	On to Hankow	231
24	Plunder and Narcotics	240
25	At War with Mao	247
26	The Price of War	256
Part VI	The Strike South, 1939-1941
27	Salvation in the South	269
28	Facing Reality	281
29	A Time for Leadership	288
Part VII	The Pacific War: the Attack
30	"Firecracker Attack": The Hundred Days	303
31	"Beneath the Skin": The Japanese Fighting Man	317
32	"Faith Is Strength": Fighting Spirit	322
33	"Gangsters, Catburglars and Poachers": The Philosophy of the Attack	326
34	"Do Your Best and Leave the Rest to Providence": The Senior Commanders	335
35	"My Sword Is My Soul": Weapons	348
36	The Missing Link: Air Power	362
37	Staying Alive: Logistics	369
38	Hidden Asset: Military Intelligence	375
Part VIII	The Pacific War: the Retreat
39	"Advancing to the Rear": The Defensive	385
40	"The Pacific Is Also Big": Japan's Long Decline	393
41	"The World's Worst Country": Imphal	406
42	"Powerful Enemies": Weaknesses in the Imperial Army	415
43	"Desperate and Crazy to Die": Last Stands	428
44	Death March: The Road to Surrender	444
45	Aftermath	456
Part IX	The Shrouded Past
46	"Longstanding Regrettable Practices": Atrocities and Their Origins	475
47	Facing the Past	485
	A Note on Sources	493
	Notes	497
	Index	553

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Soldiers of the Sun

"This book ought to be read as a necessary prelude to the ill-informed and uncultured debate that rages in the United States. The lessons of history, and of what happens when a thwarted nation finds itself encircled, are there to be learned."

-- Newsday

"A fine history that analyzes the military legacy of the Imperial Japanese Army and assesses moral responsibility for its excesses."

-- Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

This is a well-written, comprehensively researched survey of the Imperial Japanese army--its fighting power and mentality. The Harrieses ( Sheathing the Sword ) describe an ethos based on service to the ``Japanese way,'' embodied in the emperor. The book argues convincingly that the Russo-Japanese War marked the zenith of the army's popularity and efficiency. Over the following three decades it fell victim to its own myths. The soldiers increasingly advocated transforming Japan into a self-sufficient garrison state through total physical and psychological mobilization. This ideology, however, was not translated into operable strategy. Unable to conquer China, the army embarked on war with the West as well. This reckless advance into the unknown involved missed opportunities and repeated mistakes from Bataan to Imphal. Spirit and willpower were expected to compensate for material weaknesses. Unreflected decisions were made at all levels of planning and command. Eventually the gap between the samurai way and modern high-tech warfare became obvious even to true believers. But by the time of Japan's WW II surrender its army had unrepentently inflicted death and destruction throughout the Pacific on a scale that continues to assert Japan's status as an outsider among Western-style democracies. This first-rate analysis will appeal to general readers and specialists alike. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Read More