Warlord Tojo Against the World

Although the book has a great deal of information about Tojo, it also has a lot of information about the pre-war years and the war itself.

Tojo ended up holding a variety of posts at he same time: prime minister, war minister, minister of armaments, minister of education, and chief of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. The author says that although Tojo was a professional officer, he had a poor understanding of the United States.

The book goes into considerable detail on all the various positions that Tojo held, including his relationship to the Kempeitai, the Japanese secret police. A lot of his attention was actually on pushing for a war with the Soviet Union, but this eventually got replaced with a drive south.

One reason England was worried about the Japanese war with China was that it could have adverse effects on the British position there.

The author examines the 'thought control' legislation, and the power of the extreme right in Japan at hat time. The extreme right was trying to say that Japan just wanted to lead China out of colonialism by the Western powers. He also discusses the effects of propaganda in Japan in 1937, the propaganda relating to the 'brave' efforts of the Japanese soldiers that were there. By 1939, the position became that Japan was 'sacrificing' itself in China to protect China from communism, and Asia from Western colonialism.

The Konoye cabinet had three intentions: establish a controlled economy, eliminate civilian political parties, and ally with Germany. The Japanese were impressed with how Hitler had caused Germany to rise from its defeat after World War I.

In the Spring of 1940 Japan was getting ready for a war to take the oil it needed from the East Indies and wherever else they wanted it.

The anti-Japanese prejudice in the U.S. is discussed, and the Japanese reaction to it. This led to increased paranoia on the part of Japan, for one thing.

The lack of central control over the Army is discussed in relation to how some Army units became involved in terrible atrocities and nothing really was done to them to stop their actions or to punish them.

'To the Japanese, the Western economic blockade was a sort of war.' Both economics and prejudice were inter-twined in the events leading up to the war.

The book goes into the negotiations between the countries, and what Japan was willing to give up and what it would refuse to agree to no matter what. (Throughout all of these events the Emperor seemed to be kept quite informed and knew just what was going on.)

Tojo did not expect to be made Prime Minister. His appointment was viewed as showing that the Japanese military was in control of the Japanese government. 'On November 20, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army issued its war orders for the attacks against Malaya and the Philippines. By November 22, the young officers had decided what sort of occupation the Japanese would undertake. It would be a military government and its principal aim would be to milk the resources of the area for the Emperor's forces.'

FDR had sent a message to the Emperor, but a minor official, a lieutenant, had ordered all messages held up for at time, so the message did not get to the Emperor until after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Tojo had a number of concerns as a ruler.

1. Communists.

2. Nationalistic organizations like Cherry Blossom and Black Dragon, and Supernationalistic organizations.

3. Controlling rumors.

4. Control of foreigners.

5. Control of ordinary crimes.

6. The need for police and fire to handle more responsibility for emergencies.

7. Control of public attitudes.

Another concern was how to handle all the civilian and military prisoners that the Japanese were taking.

'Tojo's other source of power derived from the Emperor's innate distrust of the Army and his fear that the generals might try to unseat him.'

The Dolittle raid and the reaction in Japan is discussed, along with the Rape of Nanking. “...terrorism and cruelty became two of the major weapons used against the Chinese.' Some of the other Japanese atrocities are then discussed.

Apparently Tojo's view of things was that the military commanders had great latitude to do as they wished.

The book then discusses the idea of uniting Asia under Japan's roof.

Originally, neither Tojo or the Imperial Headquarters were very worried about the U.S. landing on Guadalcanal. To kick the Americans off the island it was felt that only a small competent unit would be necessary.

As the war situation worsened, Army officials behaved worse and more out of control and treated prisoners and general civilians even worse. Even the Japanese themselves were subjected to tighter control.

The problems between the Japanese Army and the Japanese Navy are discussed.

As can be seen, the book contains a great deal of information.

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