American Shogun

by Robert Harvey

From the mid-nineteenth century on, America and Japan were caught in an extraordinary political, military and ecomic duel. This clash was characterised by a cultural incompatibility that was to haunt the negotiations of their two leaders, Emperor Hirohito and General MacArthur.Hirohito was a remarkable man. Diffident, uncharismatic and apparently obtuse

Genres: History, Japan, Nonfiction, World War II, Military History

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Blue Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story between general Douglas MacAuthur and Emperor Hirohito is really interesting and somewhat inspiring. Both were so different in many aspects - one was a soldier, a general who fought bravely and made his way through countless battlefields while the other was a prince who spent most of his lifetime in the "cage". Yet those two figures were of the few people who had done many changes which affected the current modern day Japan.
Majority of the Japanese people still consider MacAuthur as one of the most important figure who had contributed and brought great influence to their country in the 20th century.
Long story short, if you are still wondering if this is a good book to read, I truly recommend to do so. Those who are interested, you can also watch the movie "The Emperor" to have a glimpse of what the story about.
Cheers

[Harold · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on MacArthur and Hirohito and traces their parallels in history. Presents a picture more nuanced than most histories dealing with both figures. In so doing, it explains how and why Japan has evolved to become what it is yet hold vestiges of rancor as a result of the war and its immediate outcome. It presents MacArthur making the best of situations (sometimes of his own doing) and coming out ahead - though in most cases over time.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it was about the occupation of Japan. The occupation is less than 1/3 of the book. While the book's a good read, it sprawls beyond the subtitle too.

Harvey is at his best when describing the colorful life of MacArthur and the social/political/economic state pre-war Japan. At times the text bogs with no point to the larger story, for instance, over 10 pages on a family during the bombing of Nagasaki. The Philippine part while lengthy, could be justified because it shaped MacArthur. The Korean saga, while interesting, is far too long for a book called "Shogun" about the "drama of modern Japan". These are a few examples where more focus would improve the book.

The emperor's restoration is an example of Harvey at his best. He brings to bear all opinion of the time, including a reasonably popular one in Japan, for abdication in favor of his son. The emperor's staying in place, (only to build his own celebrity and undermine MacArthur), and the effect that protecting the emperor from prosecution had on the war crimes trials, left me with two new perspectives.

One is a new understanding of Koizumi's visits visits to the Yasukuni shrine. I had thought these visits were merely to appease a right wing, but I see them in a wider context. The war crimes trials, the post-war behavior of the emperor (not divine, but descended from the sun), and the forces at work to discredit MacArthur, provide substance to the view that the Japanese military was responding and not aggressive.

The other is that I now understand why so many young Japanese have never heard of MacArthur. I teach and have recently taught perhaps 200 Japanese students, who are late teens to early 30's. It's unusual when a student recognizes his name. Given the forces above, which provide context for the recent text book controversy, it's pretty clear that this piece of history is not accessible to the average citizen.

(Amazon advertizes this book as a "two for" with a bio on Huey Long. I puzzled over this strange mix. Perhaps the Amazon marketers have read the book. Harvey quotes FDR is as saying MacArthur and Long are the most dangerous men in America.)

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly a somewhat dry read, given the number of people and events the book covers (basically, the lives, careers, deaths, and lasting affects of MacArthur and Hirohito), to tell it in a more "exciting" manner would have required 4 volumes. As it is, events are described with a fair amount of equanimity for all involved, even those who were definitely NOT acting in Japan's OR America's best interests (read: Zaibatsu, the Japanese military-industrial complex, the American military-industrial complex, or any of the multitudes who had their fingers in the Japanese pie during and after World War II).

Basically, if you are at all interested in the events leading up to, culminating in, and rippling outwards from the crucible of Japan during WWII, this book is a pretty damn good read. Ignoring the tendency to make everyone perfect heroes, everyone is depicted true to life, faults and all. Those faults generally make for the most gripping parts of the tale, from MacArthur's excessive ego to Hirohito's fence-sitting when it came to whether or not the Emperor should take full responsibility for Japan's acts in the war.

Spoiler: Japan lost the war...but only at first...

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent view into the mind of MacArthur, who as a general sought to surround himself by self-created myth. MacArthur, who sought to become a political force, shows some surprising viewpoints during his time directing the Japanese occupation. He writes, "If any occupation lasts too long, or is not carefully watched from the start, one party becomes slaves and the other masters. History teaches, too, that almost every military occupation breeds new wars of the future. I had studied the lives of Alexander and Caesar and Napoleon and, as great as these captains were, all had suffered when they became the leaders of the occupation forces. I tried to remember the lessons my own father had taught me, lessons learned out of his experience as military governor of the Philippines, but I was assailed by the greatest misgivings. With such hazards as I anticipated, could I succeed? My doubts were to be my best safeguard, my fears my greatest strength.”

Robert Harvey has an extensive discussion of the opposition to MacArthur’s moves – including even seizing food stocks to feed the Japanese.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a history of both Hirohito and McArthur, not two men I would think abut together. Yet as I read the history I realize how married these two lives became.

The book is very well written and readable. I learned great deal about the history leading up to the war,and the roles the two men played, or in Hirohito's part was unable to play, in the events taking place in a part of history that is chock full of myths and misunderstandings.

I came to the book thinking I knew a great deal about the prelude to the war in the pacific. I see now I did and did not. I certainly had not idea of the history of Japan and the role of a thousand years of culture played. Fascinating and enlightening.

I must admit that I came to the book with a firm negative opinion of McArthur, and while he is definitely a fascinating man, nothing that I read changed my mind, and quite frankly I think America was incredibly lucky he was never given the opportunity to run the country.

Very good book.

[Mike Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned more about the Pacific campaign from this book than from all previous sources combined. That being said, at times it suffered from information overload which made made it confusing and hard to follow in parts.