Politics and Culture in Wartime Japan (Clarendon Paperbacks)

the Pacific War Was The Most Traumatic Experience For Japan In Modern Times. This Book Examines The Politics And Culture Of Japan During This Period: The Establishment Of The Wartime Regime—its Character And Limitations; The Actions And Reactions Of The Emperor, The Bureaucrats, And The Politicians; The Deposing Of The Prime Minister In The Middle Of The War; Political Developments Under His Successors; The Role Of The Press; The Behavior Of The Intellectuals; And Prevailing Attitudes Towards The West. Shillony Argues That The Wartime Regime Of Japan Was Very Different From Contemporary Totalitarian States. The Political Values Of The Japanese Were Part Of A Wider Cultural Milieu, In Which Traditional Concepts Had Already Been Affected By Contact With Western Civilivzation. "The Pacific War was the most traumatic experience for Japan in modern times. This book examines the politics and culture of Japan during this period: the establishment of the wartime regime, its character and limitations: the actions and reactions of the emperor, the bureaucrats, and the politicians; the role of the press; the behaviour of the intellectuals; and prevailing attitudes towards the West. Ben-Ami Shillony argues that the wartime regime of Japan, repressive as it was, was very different from contemporary totalitarian states. The political values of the Japanese were part of a wider cultural milieu, in which traditional concepts had already been affected by contact with Western civilization. His scholarly analysis will be invaluable for all students of modern Japan."--Back cover This analysis of the politics and culture of Japan during the period of World War II argues that the wartime regime, repressive as it was, was very different from contemporary totalitarian states.