What do you think?
Rate this book
Valley of Darkness
This volume portrays the daily life of ordinary Japanese civilians on the home front during World War Two. Drawing extensively on wartime records and early postwar recollections of people who lived through the war era, the book reveals a surprisingly cohesive society that bore up remarkably well. Originally published by W.W. Norton and Company in 1978.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1978
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 16, 2010
A fascinating and valuable look at daily life in wartime Japan -- slightly academic (hence, the missing star), but in certain parts also movingly written. In addition, because the Japanese experience was in many ways so different from that of Germany or Italy, this book gives valuable insights into the protean nature of fascism -- which comes in many flavors..., like quarks.
January 16, 2016
Chapters include The War at Home, Extravagance is the Enemy, Getting Organized for War, Tightening the Drum, bringing the War Home, Working, Eating, Adjusting, Fleeing, Enduring, and War's Social Residue.
Early on the book says that never before 1937 had the Japanese people been involved in a war where they would undergo austerities and total mobilization. The book refers to the “national spiritual mobilization” of 1937 to 1940.
At a later time in the war streetcars in Tokyo would stop near the palace to allow the passengers to rise and bow deeply in worship of the Emperor.
Some women were mobilized to stand on streetcorners and hand pamphlets to stylishly dressed women, the pamphlets basically saying they should be dressed in such a way due to the war.
The book talks about Domei, the information news service, and its formation and control. It also discusses how the number of newspapers was cut down, and how the number of magazines were cut down during the war, making control of their content easier.
Schoolchildren were also involved as the textbooks were changed, the curriculum was changed, and they had to do military drill and student labor service. Boys in the upper elementary and secondary schools had to take military training.
Only a minority of boys and girls kept their education going after the compulsory six years since so many were being pulled into “voluntary” activities related to the war effort.
The book spends lot of time discussion the formation of and organization of neighborhood associations, and what their purposes were. It also discusses censorship and control of newspapers. Then it talks about magazine, radio, and movie censorship and control.
As the war went on, there was a definite effect on the factories as absenteeism and shoddy work became chronic.
Military authorities in Hiroshima banned people from streetcars and buses in 1942. They were forced to walk or bike to work.
Dressmaking, art schools, and typing schools in the nation were closed down. People were expected to work longer hours and take less time off. The amount of school time dropped to around six hours a week as students also were expected to work in factories or on other projects.
Prisoners in the jails were put to work, along with prisoners-of-war, and 1.3 million Koreans and 38,000 contract Chinese workers. Of these, some 6,830 of the Chinese workers and around 60,000 of the Korean workers died.
After 1943, sugar and soap were rarely available.
The book also talks about the black market.
By 1944, the calorie intake of the average civilian had dropped 17% from the start of the war.
Primary school students in 1942 were fed roasted sparrows to help cut down the bird's eating of rice plants.
Government plans to protect the cities late in the war included evacuation of people, dispersal of factories, creating firebreaks, and strengthening air defense activiti
Early on the book says that never before 1937 had the Japanese people been involved in a war where they would undergo austerities and total mobilization. The book refers to the “national spiritual mobilization” of 1937 to 1940.
At a later time in the war streetcars in Tokyo would stop near the palace to allow the passengers to rise and bow deeply in worship of the Emperor.
Some women were mobilized to stand on streetcorners and hand pamphlets to stylishly dressed women, the pamphlets basically saying they should be dressed in such a way due to the war.
The book talks about Domei, the information news service, and its formation and control. It also discusses how the number of newspapers was cut down, and how the number of magazines were cut down during the war, making control of their content easier.
Schoolchildren were also involved as the textbooks were changed, the curriculum was changed, and they had to do military drill and student labor service. Boys in the upper elementary and secondary schools had to take military training.
Only a minority of boys and girls kept their education going after the compulsory six years since so many were being pulled into “voluntary” activities related to the war effort.
The book spends lot of time discussion the formation of and organization of neighborhood associations, and what their purposes were. It also discusses censorship and control of newspapers. Then it talks about magazine, radio, and movie censorship and control.
As the war went on, there was a definite effect on the factories as absenteeism and shoddy work became chronic.
Military authorities in Hiroshima banned people from streetcars and buses in 1942. They were forced to walk or bike to work.
Dressmaking, art schools, and typing schools in the nation were closed down. People were expected to work longer hours and take less time off. The amount of school time dropped to around six hours a week as students also were expected to work in factories or on other projects.
Prisoners in the jails were put to work, along with prisoners-of-war, and 1.3 million Koreans and 38,000 contract Chinese workers. Of these, some 6,830 of the Chinese workers and around 60,000 of the Korean workers died.
After 1943, sugar and soap were rarely available.
The book also talks about the black market.
By 1944, the calorie intake of the average civilian had dropped 17% from the start of the war.
Primary school students in 1942 were fed roasted sparrows to help cut down the bird's eating of rice plants.
Government plans to protect the cities late in the war included evacuation of people, dispersal of factories, creating firebreaks, and strengthening air defense activiti
December 6, 2015
Decent complement to Mizuki's Showa. Shows just how outmatched Japan was in material terms when it decided to wage war against the US, Britain, and others. It's sad to think that the suffering of the Japanese people in the waning days of the war was mitigated by the fact that by war's end they had so little to lose (Havens makes this argument). His account of the Tokyo firebombing is also unforgettable.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews