The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire - 1936-1945 (Modern Library War)

John Toland's Rising Sun gives a unique documentation of the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor from the Japanese perspective as well as the conduct of the war in the Pacific with the opposing viewpoints of the politicians and military. The opportunities to avoid war that were wasted through misinterpretation and miscommunication which could have dramatically altered history are painfully recorded. Needless loss of life of men and women (and children), both military and civilian, makes one appalled at the cost to humanity of war.

Make no mistake, this is a fine book. The history told primarily from the Japanese point of view helps to make the Pacific War comprehensible. However, the book - purchased from the store - has a great defect. The photographs referred to in the text are absent from the edition available with the benefit of "super saver".

I bought the softcover the store version to replace a hardcover version that went missing in too many moves. I think the photos are important to see and read the faces of the human beings who lived through the described events. While the lack of the photos takes nothing away from the excellence of the history, the story told is diminished by their absence. Buy a more expensive edition and get the photographs.

Should be the closest to the truth, everybody knows that in a war the first casualty is the truth. Some passages of the book looks like a novel but a very good history on why Japan declared the war against the Anglo-Saxon empires, why it was the wrong way, why they were pushed to that point, the way the Japanese people see war and they honor, anyway they helped a lot of nations to gain their independence from the Europeans and Americans, millions of lives wasted, millions of young people from Japan, from America and his allies, and from the innocent people closes to the war scenario in Asia and mainly Japan. The decisions taken By Roosevelt / Staling and Churchill, MacArthur, Nimitz, the emperor Hirohito, Japaneses prime ministers, all the amazing description of those battle in the seas with these amazing battle ships, air carriers, the latest in the world. The detailed descriptions to the brutal and amazing retreat from the Philippines, Midway, battles for Guadalcanal, Guam, Leyte, Iwo-Jima, Okinawa, the atomic bomb, and finally the consequences for Japan and for the rest of the world from this war.

It's a wonderful book, nevertheless it bothered me that it didn't presented the japanese POV in some battles. This is an important omission since the book claimed to be written from the japanese point of view.

Plus, after Pearl Harbor, China disappears almost completely from the book. I know it's a secondary theater, but not even a few lines?

Deals with the political events responsible for the creation of the final government control of the Japanese military. Describes the personalities of the Japanese officials and their relationship with other cabinet members. Explains the Japanese historical philosophy and general evaluation of western culture that had a major impact on the decision to intiate WWII.Demonstrates the affect of military success and defeat on the prosecution of dogmatic strategy. Provides a description and analysis of vaious battles, political events and national perspective during the war.

This is another truly great book from John Toland. While written about 40 years ago, his info was pretty fresh and he was able to interview numerous sources to get first hand accounts. I truly enjoyed this and would strongly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Pacific War and its causes.

Very detailed on events leading up to Pearl Harbor to total defeat. The author, through historical documents and dialogue, shows how Japan became a prisoner of its culture, pride, and political system all inevitably leading to war with the US. A war that most influential Japanese realized that Japan could not win.

I ordered this book for my husband. He enjoyed reading it as he will read most anything military or about any war that involved Americans. I have not personally read it but am glad he loved the book.

Hard to put down, but - since this book was written in the 60's - some of the information is not up to date. After reading this book you should read 'Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan' to get a more accurate representation of the Emperor of Japan and his role during WWII.

Very detailed analysis of the actions of the powerful men in Japan prior to and through WWII. This book is not for someone who wants a summary of Japan during it's militaristic takeover of the far east.

Very detailed analysis of the actions of the powerful men in Japan prior to and through WWII. This book is not for someone who wants a summary of Japan during it's militaristic takeover of the far east.

The book is good history, expecially for the events and negotions leading up to actual war between America and Japan. The history of the actual fighting is good, but is only one of several histories that are available, of which each is edited according to various viewpoints and biases.

John Toland has clarified many mysteries regarding the conflict between Japan and the Western World during the 1940's. He takes us behind the scenes and we get to know the personalities of those on both sides making the decisions. He "humanizes" those we used to look upon as enemies and he brings us to a better understanding of why people resort to the violence we call war. THE RISING SUN; THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE JAPANESE EMPIRE by John Toland is history at its best; believeable and enlightening. World War II history buffs will find this work rewarding and eye-opening!

The best and most deeply researched action history of the war in the Pacific. The behind the scenes view from the Japanese side is unprecedented . A gripping account from start to finish.
C.T. Green

Captivating account of the Pacific wars between Japan and the Allies. Its vivid and detailed account of the decision behind the commencement of the war shows that human decisions lead to such catastrophic mindless innocent death. The use of the atomic bomb on innocent citizens was really cruel which could have been avoided.

It provides insight into the Japanese mind set getting into the war, prosecuting the war when they knew that they had little chance of winning, and their reluctance to end the war, even when there was no hope.

Mr. Tolands concise and exact style provide Key Information of Events, this places Mr. Toland as a respected Historian who reconstructs the events from actual interviews from the Persons involved and actual Records and Documentation.
Mr. Toland begins with the events of internal Turmoil within Japan, and the Political/Economic Corruption, Favoritism of what were considered "Cliques".
and the event of Feb 1936 when several High Government Officials were killed by impetuous Young Army Officers.
This set in motion a consolidation of Power for a Military Dictatorship by Japanese Army Generals who occupied positions of Authority in Tandem with the Political Positions in a semblance of Democratic Process where each separate entity in theory had to confer with the other, after the event of Feb 1936 the Army Generals
rendered the Political Cabinet positions irrelevant and assumed complete control of Government.
Mr. Toland magnificently illustrates that the World was fast changing, from the time 1858-1936, in the area of WORLD POLITICS and POPULATION GROWTH , of greater interest is the detailed accounts of Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill, Hitler, and other main characters, what is surprising is the disturbing picture of Mr. Tolands account , Germany, Japan, Italy were preparing for War, "to protect themselves", as Mr. Toland clearly outlines each case here as well as the crafty deceptive politics of Stalin who "agrees" with every Nations Diplomats , Germany, Japan, Italy, United States, Great Britain, in "principle" while shrewdly hedging his own political agenda of waiting for these other Nations to exhaust themselves in costly War, to advance the Borders of Communism should an easy opportunity to do so present itself.
Mr. Toland Masterful account continues , and covers the entire pacific campaign with unfailing detail of every event in riveting action Pearl Harbor, Midway, Guadalcanal, Okinawa etc etc.

I received the book and it was certainly quite acceptable. The only thing that I found is that I got one book rather than the two volumes as described. I was a little surprised when the description said two volumes as I was getting the hardback books to go with a paperback version I got as a teenager back in the 1970's which was also a single volume. I am very happy to get the book, just a little perplexed why the description said two volumes. Everything else was a described.