TOJO: The Last Banzai

by Courtney Browne ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 29, 1967

Courtney Browne, a Briton, spent a dozen years in Japan as an Occupation soldier and civilian. Reflected in his combination personal biography of Hideki Tojo and military/political history of Japan from the 1850's into the MacArthur era is the same dichotomy that produced the phenomenon of GI's fighting the Pacific war--and then bringing home Japanese brides. Fascinated by Japanese xenophobia, the samurai tradition and the superSpartan quality of military training, the imperial protocol, and an awkward political system wherein the army had the constitutional right to bring down the government, Browne tempers even condemnation of wartime atrocities with a reference to ""irreconcilable differences in attitude between (Japanese soldiers) and the western enemy they fought."" Tojo, in youth a ""spoiled brat,"" Browne sizes up as a victim of ""mental myopia"": the man was ever guided by the opinion he formed in 1922 that America lacked spiritual strength. The strongest feelings evoked by this book are relief that Japan. has taken her place as a modern nation, and hope that the graces of her ancient culture will prevail over the schemes of militarists in her national consciousness.

Pub Date: June 29, 1967

ISBN: 0306808447

Page Count: -

Publisher: Holt, Rinehart & Winston

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1967

Categories: NONFICTION