I want to know more about the attack on Pearl Harbor BUT I want the Japanese perspective. I want to know what was happening in Japan, who was in power, what other things they had going on leading up to the attack, what they hoped to accomplish, etc.
by WorldlyAlbatross_Xo
1 Comment
This is a very interesting question and I’ll be curious to see anything that gets more specific to this. I can offer background. For example, to understand World War I in 1914, it helps to get a background on geopolitics and particularly the rise of Germany starting with Otto von Bismarck. Understanding Bismarck’s expansion of German power, his firing by the new Emperor Wilhelm II, and Wilhelm’s personality traits that led him to detach himself from Bismarck gets you into some of the psychology and power and pride needs that led to that Great War.
Back to Japan and WWII
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First is Emperor of Japan: Meiji and His World, 1852–1912by Donald Keene
As you can see this isn’t the time period you want but it is a historical background of Japan’s rise to power in wanting to compete with European powers. This is a time period that you will see represented in Tom Cruise’s Last Samurai where Japan is trying to industrialize and modernize its military to keep up with the European powers.
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Second is World Order by Henry Kissinger
This is an explanation into the Balance of Powers system set up after the 30 Years War in Europe for how various States/Empires in Europe and eventually Japan would begin to see each other and balance each other out. Chapter 5 is about Asia and includes Japan and some of its rise to power as a peer to the European powers. This shows that countries will have other countries team up against them if they get to be too powerful and become a threat.