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Kiska: The Japanese Occupation of an Alaska Island
Alaska’s windswept Aleutian Island chain arcs for over a thousand miles toward Asia from the Alaska Peninsula. In this remote and hostile archipelago is Kiska Island, an uninhabited sub-arctic speck in the tempestuous Bering Sea. Few have the opportunity even to visit this island, but in June of 1942 Japanese troops seized Kiska and neighboring Attu in the only occupation of North American territory since the War of 1812.
The bastion of Japan’s possessions in Alaska, Kiska was soon fortified with 7,500 enemy troops, their equipment, and a labyrinth of tunnels. For thirteen months Japanese troops withstood constant bombardment from American forces while retaining a tenuous hold on the island. Finally forced to abandon their position, the Japanese occupiers evacuated without their equipment and personal effects, leaving behind a trail of artifacts.
Brendan Coyle spent fifty-one days on the island searching out the tunnels, the equipment, and the objects, all frozen in time. Kiska brings together the images Coyle amassed during his exploration and his archival research. Accompanying explanations put the images in historical perspective, opening a window on a little-known battlefield and shining a rare light on a shadowy occupation.
The bastion of Japan’s possessions in Alaska, Kiska was soon fortified with 7,500 enemy troops, their equipment, and a labyrinth of tunnels. For thirteen months Japanese troops withstood constant bombardment from American forces while retaining a tenuous hold on the island. Finally forced to abandon their position, the Japanese occupiers evacuated without their equipment and personal effects, leaving behind a trail of artifacts.
Brendan Coyle spent fifty-one days on the island searching out the tunnels, the equipment, and the objects, all frozen in time. Kiska brings together the images Coyle amassed during his exploration and his archival research. Accompanying explanations put the images in historical perspective, opening a window on a little-known battlefield and shining a rare light on a shadowy occupation.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 17, 2020
Fascinating photo journal and history of Kiska, one of two Aleutian islands occupied by the Japanese during WWII. The environmental impact from the war eighty years ago is incredible, as are the stories of the battles fought and the eventual withdrawal by Japanese forces right before Allied forces retook the island. Attu has a more devastating story of internment of native peoples and destruction by both Allied and Japanese forces, but I did not know the story of Kiska and this was a fascinating read with incredible photos, past and present.
May 30, 2025
Nice explore of the island Kiska which I knew nothing about with historical context which I also was previously unaware of. I especially liked that a few 1940s photos were superimposed on the author's pics to allow the viewer to see older artifacts in context of the current landscape.
November 6, 2018
Enemy At the Gate:
The Aleutian Islands stretch like a string of pearls from the Alaska Peninsula westward, marking the boundary between the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. Barren, cold and desolate, Kiska is one of those islands. Prior to the 1940's life on the Aleutians consisted of verdant summer vegetation, sea birds, marine mammals and a few Aleut villages, as well as an assortment of visiting whalers and explorers. All that changed in 1942 with the arrival of the Japanese Military intent on securing a strategic gateway to North America and the USA. This action would mark the first time that an enemy military force would occupy North American soil since the War of 1812. In 2009 author Brendan Coyle spent several months on Kiska with a university biologist and was able to see first hand the numerous artifacts left behind when the Japanese evacuated the island in 1943. The result of his investigation is this wonderful coffee-table book that offers an interesting history lesson and a photographic montage of this little known corner of the world. What initially caught my eye was the author's stunning cover shot of the wrecked Japanese transport ship Borneo Maru, sunk in Gertrude Cove, Kiska. At first glance the photo appears to be monochromatic but on closer inspection you can see the green slopes partially obscured by fog, a dark and moody shot that seems to symbolize both the Aleutian Islands and the folly of war as well. There are indeed several shots of the Borneo Maru from various angles, one taken in 1943 prior to her sinking and another, by the author, complete with a bald eagle perched on the ships tilting mast. The book is profusely illustrated with over a hundred (I didn't count them) photos, many are archival shots taken by both Japanese and Allied troops in 1942 & '43. The modern day photos were mostly taken by Coyle to document his stay on Kiska but there are also some additional photos from a wide variety of sources. The text includes a Foreword by Dr. Jim Rearden an Alaskan historian/author. Coyle's writing in the main-text is fast moving and unfailingly interesting as he documents his research on the island and fills you in on Kiska's turbulent history with the invading Japanese Army. Some of the historical items were new to me; What led up to Japan's invasion of the Aleutian Island, Japan's efforts to create an Atomic Bomb, the Allied fiasco on Kiska that led to some of our troops being killed by "friendly fire". And if ever there was a job from Hell it would be manning the under-sized Two-man Submarines that Japan used! While "Kiska: The Japanese Occupation of an Alaska Island" is somewhat smaller than the usual coffee-table book @about 8 X 10 in, it packs in a lot information and lots of beautiful photos. This would look good on any coffee-table and would be a sure conversation starter.
Last Ranger
The Aleutian Islands stretch like a string of pearls from the Alaska Peninsula westward, marking the boundary between the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. Barren, cold and desolate, Kiska is one of those islands. Prior to the 1940's life on the Aleutians consisted of verdant summer vegetation, sea birds, marine mammals and a few Aleut villages, as well as an assortment of visiting whalers and explorers. All that changed in 1942 with the arrival of the Japanese Military intent on securing a strategic gateway to North America and the USA. This action would mark the first time that an enemy military force would occupy North American soil since the War of 1812. In 2009 author Brendan Coyle spent several months on Kiska with a university biologist and was able to see first hand the numerous artifacts left behind when the Japanese evacuated the island in 1943. The result of his investigation is this wonderful coffee-table book that offers an interesting history lesson and a photographic montage of this little known corner of the world. What initially caught my eye was the author's stunning cover shot of the wrecked Japanese transport ship Borneo Maru, sunk in Gertrude Cove, Kiska. At first glance the photo appears to be monochromatic but on closer inspection you can see the green slopes partially obscured by fog, a dark and moody shot that seems to symbolize both the Aleutian Islands and the folly of war as well. There are indeed several shots of the Borneo Maru from various angles, one taken in 1943 prior to her sinking and another, by the author, complete with a bald eagle perched on the ships tilting mast. The book is profusely illustrated with over a hundred (I didn't count them) photos, many are archival shots taken by both Japanese and Allied troops in 1942 & '43. The modern day photos were mostly taken by Coyle to document his stay on Kiska but there are also some additional photos from a wide variety of sources. The text includes a Foreword by Dr. Jim Rearden an Alaskan historian/author. Coyle's writing in the main-text is fast moving and unfailingly interesting as he documents his research on the island and fills you in on Kiska's turbulent history with the invading Japanese Army. Some of the historical items were new to me; What led up to Japan's invasion of the Aleutian Island, Japan's efforts to create an Atomic Bomb, the Allied fiasco on Kiska that led to some of our troops being killed by "friendly fire". And if ever there was a job from Hell it would be manning the under-sized Two-man Submarines that Japan used! While "Kiska: The Japanese Occupation of an Alaska Island" is somewhat smaller than the usual coffee-table book @about 8 X 10 in, it packs in a lot information and lots of beautiful photos. This would look good on any coffee-table and would be a sure conversation starter.
Last Ranger
November 24, 2014
I would consider this more of a coffee table book, especially since the photos were lovely, but the history and story is so fascinating it was hard to stop reading. The remote Alaskan island of Kiska was invaded by Japanese soldiers for a year during World War II. When they left, most of their equipment and supplies were abandoned and the area is so remote that it hasn't been bothered for decades. Guns, cannons, Japanese china patterns, and the original Native settlements are still in place, just slightly more rusty. When the author joined a university research team to count rats on the island, he also photographed and began gathering information for this short historical tome.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews