Grassroots fascism : the war experience of the Japanese people = Kusa no ne no fashizumu : Nihon minshu no senso taiken

Grassroots Fascism profiles the Asia Pacific War (1937-1945)--the most important though least understood experience of Japan's modern history--through the lens of ordinary Japanese life. Moving deftly from the struggles of the home front to the occupied territories to the ravages of the front line, the book offers rare insights into popular experiences from the war's troubled beginnings through Japan's disastrous defeat in 1945 and the new beginning it heralded. Yoshimi Yoshiaki mobilizes diaries, letters, memoirs, and government documents to portray the ambivalent position of ordinary Japanese as both wartime victims and active participants. He also provides penetrating accounts of the war experiences of Japan's minorities and imperial subjects, including Koreans and Taiwanese. His book challenges the idea that the Japanese people operated as a mere conduit for the military during the war, passively accepting an imperial ideology imposed upon them by the political elite. Viewed from the bottom up, wartime Japan unfolds as a complex modern mass society, with a corresponding variety of popular roles and agendas. In chronicling the diversity of wartime Japanese social experience, Yoshimi's account elevates our understanding of "Japanese Fascism." In its relation of World War II to the evolution--and destruction--of empire, it makes a fresh contribution to the global history of the war. Ethan Mark's translation supplements the Japanese original with explanatory notes and an in-depth introduction that situates the work within Japanese studies and global history. Grassroots Fascism Profiles The Asia Pacific War (1941Ð1945)Ñthe Most Important Though Least Understood Experience Of JapanÕs Modern HistoryÑthrough The Lens Of Ordinary Japanese Life. Moving Deftly From The Struggles Of The Home Front To The Occupied Territories To The Ravages Of The Front Line, The Book Offers Rare Insight Into Popular Experience From The WarÕs Troubled Beginnings Through JapanÕs Disastrous Defeat In 1945 And The New Beginning It Heralded. Yoshimi Yoshiaki Mobilizes Personal Diaries, Memoirs, And Government Documents To Portray The Ambivalent Position Of Ordinary Japanese As Both Wartime Victims And Active Participants. He Also Provides Equally Penetrating Accounts Of The War Experience Of JapanÕs Imperial Subjects, Including Koreans And Taiwanese. This Book Challenges The Idea That The Japanese Operated As A Passive, Homogenous Mass During The WarÑa Mere Conduit For A MilitaryÐimperial Ideology Imposed Upon Them By The Political Elite. Viewed From The Bottom Up, Wartime Japan Unfolds As A Complex Modern Mass Society, With A Corresponding Variety Of Popular Roles And Agendas. In Chronicling The Diversity Of The Japanese Social Experience, YoshimiÕs Account Elevates Our Understanding Of JapanÕs War And Òjapanese Fascism,Ó And In Its Relation Of World War Ii To The EvolutionÑand DestructionÑof Empire, It Makes A Fresh Contribution To The Global History Of The War. Ethan MarkÕs Translation Supplements The Japanese Original With Explanatory Annotations And An In-depth Analytical Introduction, Drawing On Personal Interviews To Situate The Work Within Japanese Studies And Global History. Grassroots Fascism profiles the Asia-Pacific War (1937–1945) through the lens of ordinary Japanese life. Moving deftly from the struggles of the home front to the occupied territories to the ravages of the front line, the book offers rare insights into popular experiences from the war's troubled beginnings through Japan's disastrous defeat in 1945 and the new era it heralded. Yoshimi Yoshiaki draws upon diaries, letters, memoirs, and government documents to illuminate the ambivalent position of ordinary Japanese as both wartime victims and active participants. He also provides penetrating accounts of the war experiences of Japan's minorities and imperial subjects, including Koreans and Taiwanese. He challenges the idea that the Japanese people passively accepted an imperial ideology imposed upon them by the political elite. Viewed from the bottom up, wartime Japan unfolds as a complex and modern mass society, with a corresponding variety of popular roles and agendas. Offers rare insights into popular experiences from the war’s troubled beginnings through Japan’s disastrous defeat in 1945 and the new beginning it heralded "A profile of the Asia Pacific War, the most important and still the least understood experience of Japan and Asia's modern history--as seen and lived by ordinary Japanese"--Provided by publisher Table of Contents Translator’s Introduction: The People in the War 1. From Democracy to Fascism 2. Grassroots Fascism 3. The Asian War 4. Democracy from the Battlefield Postscript Notes Index