The Collapse of an Empire: Japan's Military and Society Around 1945

The year 1945, when Japan was on the verge of collapse and defeat, was the most tragic year in its history and, in many respects, one of its most unusual. Drawing on historical facts and sources, the author provides a comprehensive account of Japan's social, economic, military, political, and diplomatic situation around 1945.

Militarily, discipline in the Japanese army collapsed, and its tactics, strategy, and command were rife with failures. Its desperate measures even included bombing the American mainland with balloon bombs. After suffering disastrous defeats in battles such as the Philippines campaign, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the Battle of the Irrawaddy, Japan faced its final downfall. Socially and economically, the imperial government controlled what its people wore and ate, their jobs, savings, childbirth, and entertainment, diverting the resources it saved to the military. Diplomatically, the Japanese cabinet desperately sounded out other countries in search of a dignified surrender. The two atomic bombs dropped by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ultimately brought about the demise of the Japanese Empire.

Japan in 1945 stood at a turning point between eras. The author presents an objective account supported by reason and evidence, aiming to help readers gain a clear understanding of postwar Far Eastern history and look to the future with greater insight.