Winners in Peace: MacArthur, Yoshida, and Postwar Japan

Singular for its breadth and balance Winners in Peace chronicles the American Occupation of Japan an episode that profoundly shaped the postwar world. Richard B. Finn who participated in the Occupation as a young naval officer and diplomat tells the full story of the activities from 1945 to 1952. He focuses on the two main actors General Douglas MacArthur and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and details the eras major events programs and personalities both American and Japanese. Finn draws on an impressive range of sourcesAmerican Japanese British and Australianincluding interviews with nearly one hundred participants in the Occupation. He describes the war crimes trials constitutional reforms and American efforts to rebuild Japan. The work of George Kennan in making political stability and economic recovery the top goals of the United States became critical in the face of the developing Cold War. Winners in Peace will aid our understanding of Japan todayits economic growth its style of government and the strong pacifist spirit of its people.