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Japan's Longest Day
Many books have been written about Japan's surrender in World War II, but the definitive story can only be told by the Japanese themselves. This brilliant reconstruction of the bitter hours preceding the surrender announcement of Emperor Hirohito is based on material compiled by the Pacific
War Research Society, a panel of distinguished Japanese authors and journalists. In minute and vivid detail it relates the history-making events of the brief twenty-four-hour period before the Emperor's broadcast that changed the course of nations-and the lives of millions.
During those hours-while hot-blooded young army officers were in violent conflict about whether to surrender or not-one man, General Korechika Anami, Minister of War, with his indomitable will and loyalty, stood firm in his conviction that the Emperor's word must be obeyed. That conviction led him
to the supreme sacrifice, sepukku, and his country to peace.
Japan's Longest Day is a penetrating document on the tragic personalities who played out their last great roles on the crumbling stage that was the Imperial Empire of Japan.
War Research Society, a panel of distinguished Japanese authors and journalists. In minute and vivid detail it relates the history-making events of the brief twenty-four-hour period before the Emperor's broadcast that changed the course of nations-and the lives of millions.
During those hours-while hot-blooded young army officers were in violent conflict about whether to surrender or not-one man, General Korechika Anami, Minister of War, with his indomitable will and loyalty, stood firm in his conviction that the Emperor's word must be obeyed. That conviction led him
to the supreme sacrifice, sepukku, and his country to peace.
Japan's Longest Day is a penetrating document on the tragic personalities who played out their last great roles on the crumbling stage that was the Imperial Empire of Japan.
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
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March 10, 2015
This book is about the events that took place in Tokyo twenty four hours before the then Emperor Hirohito's voice came over the Japanese airwaves proclaiming Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and to admonish the Japanese people to 'suffer what is unsufferable'. Little did we know that the whole effort almost did not come to fruition because some elements within the Japanese Imperial Army were absolutely opposed to the idea of surrender and would rather see Japan totally destroyed. This book, written by a group of Japanese historians went into the details of what various parties were doing in that twenty four hours, hour by hour.
The book itself is short, and written more like a suspense thriller than a record of history. This makes it easy to read and for me, a hard one to put down. Originally published in Japanese, the translation was admirably done, given that I could still detect the sentimental way of writing in parts of the book. What makes this book successful is how, in the short length and easy style, it makes the reader reflect on the complex nature of the Japanese society, language, and psyche.
Japan, by then, was already reduced to a country with its major cities destroyed, even if not by the atomic bomb, then by the fire bombs. Her people have little, if anything to eat; many do not have shelter and everyone is hoping for the whole war to end. Yet throughout the book, one does not get the sense that anyone has given any thoughts to their plight, those who wanted to hold out cared only about indulging in their spirit to never surrender. Those who counseled accepting the Potsdam Declaration might have wanted to end the suffering, but it was not explicit that this was the main motivation. Rather, it appeared that they wanted to do it because that was the Emperor's wish.
If there was uncertainty among the Allies about what Japan would do, the same could be said about the Japanese themselves. The only institution capable of putting in place the conditions to accept the Potsdam Declaration or to derail it was the army. While it can be argued that the Emperor was the one who made the ultimate call, few had access to him, the common Japanese certainly did not. And so among the ranks of the army, everyone was unsure if a surrender had indeed been ordered. This uncertainty was surely aggravated by the multi-layered Japanese language. Take for example the description of the conversation between the then War Minister and his brother-in-law, one of those who thought Japan should not surrender (pg 113)
And so everyone tried to second-guess each other, and it gave the conspirators the opportunity to swing people's opinion in their favour.
But the wildcard was Anami. Japan had a Supreme War Council made up of the Prime Minister Admiral Kantarō Suzuki, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Shigenori Tōgō, the Minister of War General Korechika Anami, the Minister of the Navy Admiral Mitsumasa Yonai, the Chief of the Army General Staff, General Yoshijirō Umezu, and the Chief of the Navy General Staff Admiral Soemu Toyoda. If the War Minister was to lean towards one direction, it is not hard to imagine where the other three associated with the war machinery would lean too. Although in this instance the Minister of the Navy thought it better to accept the Potsdam Declaration, all Anami had to do was to resign and the others would have to fall in line. The decision would then have to be put off again, whatever the Emperor wished.
It was fortunate that Anami held it together despite his initial reluctance, but there were a few who were important enough in the hierarchy of the army to dissent, and were ready to stage a coup d'état to that end. While it was not one which would succeed, at some point it did come close. Part of their plan called for the internment of the Emperor himself in the palace, which only emphasized the irony that they were the Imperial Guards. At that stage when Anami was already prepared to take his own life and could no longer care about what was going on, it was left to General Shizuichi Tanaka, commander of the Eastern District Army to put the rebellion down.
Perhaps the most vivid way to represent this story is to quote this small section from page 238 of the book:
The interplay between the three most important parties in the last twenty four hours before Japan officially surrendered was captured thus, all going after the prize, right in the centroid of this triangle. That is why I said that there is something poetic about how Japanese writing. More however, is their description of what became of the attempted rebellion, epitomised by what happened to the two most fanatical leaders (pg 324):
I am surprise that this book has not gotten more attention than it did among World War II enthusiasts. The surrender of the Japanese was more complex than the dropping of the two atomic bombs, more than the pouring of the Russian forces across the Manchurian border, it almost did not happen the way it did. Was there another atomic bomb to drop to convince the Japanese that more would come if they did not immediately surrender unconditionally? What then? The Japanese almost tripped themselves up with their brand of nuance (language and culture) and their code of honour (which easily led to fanaticism). It was to the credit of the Allies that while the Japanese Imperial War Council was squabbling amongst themselves, bombing was withheld, which though not explained in the book, showed patience on the part of the Allies. Continued bombing might just allow the rebels to convince others that they should go on fighting in order not to fall into the hands of the 'ruthless enemies'.
Reading a book like this would give those making the decisions a reason to pause and to reconsider their next steps. And perhaps more of us should.
The book itself is short, and written more like a suspense thriller than a record of history. This makes it easy to read and for me, a hard one to put down. Originally published in Japanese, the translation was admirably done, given that I could still detect the sentimental way of writing in parts of the book. What makes this book successful is how, in the short length and easy style, it makes the reader reflect on the complex nature of the Japanese society, language, and psyche.
Japan, by then, was already reduced to a country with its major cities destroyed, even if not by the atomic bomb, then by the fire bombs. Her people have little, if anything to eat; many do not have shelter and everyone is hoping for the whole war to end. Yet throughout the book, one does not get the sense that anyone has given any thoughts to their plight, those who wanted to hold out cared only about indulging in their spirit to never surrender. Those who counseled accepting the Potsdam Declaration might have wanted to end the suffering, but it was not explicit that this was the main motivation. Rather, it appeared that they wanted to do it because that was the Emperor's wish.
If there was uncertainty among the Allies about what Japan would do, the same could be said about the Japanese themselves. The only institution capable of putting in place the conditions to accept the Potsdam Declaration or to derail it was the army. While it can be argued that the Emperor was the one who made the ultimate call, few had access to him, the common Japanese certainly did not. And so among the ranks of the army, everyone was unsure if a surrender had indeed been ordered. This uncertainty was surely aggravated by the multi-layered Japanese language. Take for example the description of the conversation between the then War Minister and his brother-in-law, one of those who thought Japan should not surrender (pg 113)
Anami paused. His brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Takeshita, raised his downcast eyes. Anami ought to have said, “We officers - ” and the fact that he did not convince Takeshita that Anami had also not reached a final decision.
And so everyone tried to second-guess each other, and it gave the conspirators the opportunity to swing people's opinion in their favour.
But the wildcard was Anami. Japan had a Supreme War Council made up of the Prime Minister Admiral Kantarō Suzuki, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Shigenori Tōgō, the Minister of War General Korechika Anami, the Minister of the Navy Admiral Mitsumasa Yonai, the Chief of the Army General Staff, General Yoshijirō Umezu, and the Chief of the Navy General Staff Admiral Soemu Toyoda. If the War Minister was to lean towards one direction, it is not hard to imagine where the other three associated with the war machinery would lean too. Although in this instance the Minister of the Navy thought it better to accept the Potsdam Declaration, all Anami had to do was to resign and the others would have to fall in line. The decision would then have to be put off again, whatever the Emperor wished.
It was fortunate that Anami held it together despite his initial reluctance, but there were a few who were important enough in the hierarchy of the army to dissent, and were ready to stage a coup d'état to that end. While it was not one which would succeed, at some point it did come close. Part of their plan called for the internment of the Emperor himself in the palace, which only emphasized the irony that they were the Imperial Guards. At that stage when Anami was already prepared to take his own life and could no longer care about what was going on, it was left to General Shizuichi Tanaka, commander of the Eastern District Army to put the rebellion down.
Perhaps the most vivid way to represent this story is to quote this small section from page 238 of the book:
The War Minister’s official residence was one corner of a triangle in the center of which stood the Imperial Palace. The other two corners were headquarters of the First Imperial Guards Division and headquarters of the Eastern District Army.
The interplay between the three most important parties in the last twenty four hours before Japan officially surrendered was captured thus, all going after the prize, right in the centroid of this triangle. That is why I said that there is something poetic about how Japanese writing. More however, is their description of what became of the attempted rebellion, epitomised by what happened to the two most fanatical leaders (pg 324):
The two offices (Major Hatanaka and Lieutenant Colonel Shiizaki) thrust their declaration into the hands of the passers-by – but the latter did not pause; they passed by.
I am surprise that this book has not gotten more attention than it did among World War II enthusiasts. The surrender of the Japanese was more complex than the dropping of the two atomic bombs, more than the pouring of the Russian forces across the Manchurian border, it almost did not happen the way it did. Was there another atomic bomb to drop to convince the Japanese that more would come if they did not immediately surrender unconditionally? What then? The Japanese almost tripped themselves up with their brand of nuance (language and culture) and their code of honour (which easily led to fanaticism). It was to the credit of the Allies that while the Japanese Imperial War Council was squabbling amongst themselves, bombing was withheld, which though not explained in the book, showed patience on the part of the Allies. Continued bombing might just allow the rebels to convince others that they should go on fighting in order not to fall into the hands of the 'ruthless enemies'.
Reading a book like this would give those making the decisions a reason to pause and to reconsider their next steps. And perhaps more of us should.
June 7, 2020
الكتاب جيد كموضوع ... الترجمة بها أخطاء و سيئة و هناك أجزاء محذوفة من الكتاب موجودة فى الترجمة الإنجليزية
لم تتم مراجعة الكتاب و توجد به مشاكل فى التنسيق و أخطاء مطبعية
لم لاجد العنوان الفرعى فى أى غلاف للنسخ الإنجليزية
الكتاب بالإنجليزية
https://archive.org/details/japanslon...
فيلم أطول يوم Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfYkl...
لم تتم مراجعة الكتاب و توجد به مشاكل فى التنسيق و أخطاء مطبعية
لم لاجد العنوان الفرعى فى أى غلاف للنسخ الإنجليزية
الكتاب بالإنجليزية
https://archive.org/details/japanslon...
فيلم أطول يوم Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfYkl...
June 11, 2015
Hour by hour history of Japans last day prior to surrender and a tale of intrigue and soul searching it is. Worth tracking down.
January 6, 2023
اصعب يوم في تاريخ اليابان كان صعباً على الشعب والإمبراطور وكان امراً لا يمكن القبول به من قبل الجيش الإمبراطوري المعبأ بالمشاعر الشوفينية وقضية اليابان المقدسة ما حدا بوزير الحرب انامي ان ينتحر بطريقة الساموراي القديمة بشق البطن
April 18, 2020
الكتاب يحكي تفاصيل أحداث آخر 24 ساعة قبل أن تعلن اليابان بشكل رسمي استسلامها في الحرب العالمية الثانية، وما جرى خلالها من نقاشات وحوارات واختلافات في مجلس الحرب، وكذلك في مجلس الوزراء، بين من يؤيدون الاستسلام ورافضيه، ومحاولة الانقلاب الفاشلة التي سبقت الإعلان بسويعات.
بعض الأحداث قد تحبس أنفاسك وأنت تقرؤها.
بعض الأحداث قد تحبس أنفاسك وأنت تقرؤها.
September 16, 2021
مستغرب جداً ان الكتاب دة متعملش فيلم !! يوم اعلان استسلام اليابان حيث الصدمة و الجنون يشابكان مع العقلانية والدبلوماسية من يفقد اعصابه و يرفع سيفة أو مسدسة لقتل "الخونة" او الانتحار للموت بشرف ومن يعد الوثائق و يجهز ترتيبات الاعلان بحرفية و دقة إليه .. عارف كل الاحداث و الكتاب مضافليش جديد لكن الجو السينمائي له مميز
** ان لم تكن مطلع على اوضاع اليبابان قبل الحرب العالمية الثانية و اثنائها قد لا يكون هذا الكتاب مناسب لك
** ان لم تكن مطلع على اوضاع اليبابان قبل الحرب العالمية الثانية و اثنائها قد لا يكون هذا الكتاب مناسب لك
October 22, 2022
تاريخ بأسلوب رواية. بدايته ثقيل جدًا، لكنه يجذبك تدريجيًا. تفاصيله دقيقة جدًا أظنها موجهة لباحثي هذه الحقبة أكثر من القراء العاديين. الأهم من هذا أن الكتاب نقل يوم الاستسلام بأفضل طريقة، فعلًا كان أطول يوم في تاريخ اليابان.
March 13, 2014
Fascinating! Well done General Anami for holding it together. The Emperor didn't do a bad job either.
January 6, 2024
في الخامس عشر من أغسطس عام 1945 كانت اليابان على موعد مع حدثين تاريخيين، سيسمع اليابانيون صوت الإمبراطور في الراديو، والحدث الآخر أن هذا الصوت سيعلن استسلام اليابان في الحرب، تلك الساعة هي التي سُجلت في التاريخ لكن سبقها أربع وعشرون أخرى عاشت اليابان فيها ملاحم درامية حتى إعلان الهزيمة، كانت تلك الهزيمة بالنسبة لليابانيين كارثة لم يفيقوا من حيرتها حتى اللحظة، البلاد برمتها لم تنسى ذلك التاريخ، لا زالت اليابان ضالة تتذكر أرواح القتلى وتحمل أعباء الذكرى.
January 15, 2025
متابعه الساعات الاخيرة الصعبة وكواليسها قبل استسلام اليابان واعلان انتهاء الحرب العالمية الثانية
August 9, 2017
Never meant to read this so soon after picking it up, but The Bells of Nagasaki, combined with my recent trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki really kick-started my interest in Japanese history. Must admit I'm ashamed it took so long.
For having lived here as long as I have, I know shockingly little and like Bells... this book raised more questions than it answered for me and my copy is now dog-eared and full of notes in the margins and it inspired me to buy a copy of Showa: The Japan of Hirohito, which I did start tonight before realising that I need to do some 'net reading to get up to speed on the basics first. But this is meant to be a review, not an account of my Japanese history knowledge, or lack thereof. To start off, I'm not addressing any of the propaganda, from either side, unless it directly relates to something in this book. So no mokusatsu no theories on why the Bombs were dropped when/if Japan had agreed to surrender. The only people who could have answered those are long dead.
August 15th, 1945 marked a climax in the hundred-year history of Japan since the Meiji Restoration. The whole future of the the Japanese people and of Japan itself hinges on that single day. And in a way it's had an impact on how the rest of us see Japan, but I truly wonder how many people who are not Japanese historians could name the date and time. Everyone can name the dates that the bombs fell, but I think the most amazing thing about this book is how it took us through those six days and the final twenty-four hours in an attempt to explain what the nation was facing in those days days and hours.
Twenty years are not, perhaps, a very long time for a nation to cast off an old and long-established belief, but it must be done if the people of Japan are to live in a world of today rather than yesterday. An admirable goal set in 1965 when this book was written, and I really wonder if many members of the Pacific War Research Society lived long enough for it to happen--some stay it still hasn't, I'd argue it only came to be in 2002 with the opening of Peace Memorial Hall and the public admission of guilt. It's not about pointing fingers but rather about looking back at one's own role in world affairs.
The Divinity of the Emperor and preserving polity are at the crux of this book and the conflicts leading up to the decision to surrender, and part of what frustrated me was how little I know about Hirohito. I don't know the connection between the Emperor and the Sacred Crane, I don't understand the Divinity, I don't quite get the theory of the 'hundred-hear history' that only goes as far back as Meiji since the Emperor system existed prior to Meiji, albeit in a different form. There's so much I still want to know and I think I'm going to be devouring everything I can find on Hirohito. Ashamedly, I couldn't even remember the name of the reign of the current emperor, though I knew I'd heard it before and should know. I knew Taisho from the talk of Sakurajima's explosion in Taisho and anyone who's studied anything about Japan knows Meiji, but I couldn't name the current one.
The book [p. 18, 21, 24, 29-31, 82-85] has a lot to say about the Emperor and his role, but I was shocked to learn that it's not a case of what he says goes. I knew now that the Emperor is more of a figurehead but didn't realise that his role, as far back as the close of WW2, was mainly to agree with what the government had decided. What I really found powerful was how rational a man he seemed to be. "...I am not concerned with what happens to me. I want to preserve the lives of my people. I do not want them subjected to further destruction." I think that played a large role in getting the Cabinet to accept the terms of the reply to the proposed surrender. They saw preserving polity as key, Hirohito saw the saving of lives. This is interesting to read in retrospect because now, of course we know he lived and as allowed to continue as Emperor but is also interesting in light of the recent and ongoing debate over changes to the the Constitution [see also Wiki].
"...he was the personification and image of the sacred homeland they had sworn to protect until death, the symbol of Japan's immortality"...
And yet he was so humble, offered to speak to the troops, to the Imperial Guard. To explain his decision. Amazing. I also find it shocking that to hear his voice was such a rare treasure, can anyone imagine a world leader today shutting up long enough that their voice would be considered as such?
February 26th is mentioned quite regularly throughout the book, but at no point do the authors explain it. I'd guess because they knew most of their contemporaries knew all about it--here's some info for the rest of us--where would I be without wiki?! I also feel some shame that I know little to nothing about the Manchurian Incident--I'd like to say we never studied any of this at school because I can't imagine forgetting it given that I tend to remember most of history class because it was one of my favourite subjects but...
With regard to Anami's suicide, which is mentioned even on the book flaps, it's almost possible to have a look into the Japanese attitude towards seppuku. When discussion and debate was raging over whether to accept the US Govt's response, one of the Navy officers said to Suzuki that Anami would kill himself and Suzuki's response "that will be very regrettable". It's just so matter of fact, guess because it's been a part of their way for so long. I also found interesting [p.294] the thought process that goes into the decision on where to commit the act, every bit of it has meaning. "Anami had lived, and died, like a Japanese, a samurai, a man to be respected". I thought that was perhaps the most touching line, a beautiful characterization of a man so central to the events of this time.
"...though we boast that Japan is sacred and indestructible, are willing to surrender without enaging the enemy on our homeland...". But in a sense, they had. Okinawa. I liked how the authors ran the c'oup throughout the chapters, weaving back and forth between the players. Really conveyed the emotional investment of the players as well as made it clear that the actual plans went on beyond the c'oup. I would also think that this is the first time I've read an account of a planned c'oup that's not treated with blatant distaste.
"The strains of 'Kimigayo', the Japanese national anthem, followed. Then, after a brief pause, out of the sky came the long-awaited, the revered, the troubled but peaceful Voice of the Crane: 'To Our good and loyal subjects....'"
A beautiful ending to what I consider to be a 'beautiful' book. Is it wrong to consider a book about war 'beautiful'? Probably, but I don't consider this to be a book about war so much as a quest for peace.
For having lived here as long as I have, I know shockingly little and like Bells... this book raised more questions than it answered for me and my copy is now dog-eared and full of notes in the margins and it inspired me to buy a copy of Showa: The Japan of Hirohito, which I did start tonight before realising that I need to do some 'net reading to get up to speed on the basics first. But this is meant to be a review, not an account of my Japanese history knowledge, or lack thereof. To start off, I'm not addressing any of the propaganda, from either side, unless it directly relates to something in this book. So no mokusatsu no theories on why the Bombs were dropped when/if Japan had agreed to surrender. The only people who could have answered those are long dead.
August 15th, 1945 marked a climax in the hundred-year history of Japan since the Meiji Restoration. The whole future of the the Japanese people and of Japan itself hinges on that single day. And in a way it's had an impact on how the rest of us see Japan, but I truly wonder how many people who are not Japanese historians could name the date and time. Everyone can name the dates that the bombs fell, but I think the most amazing thing about this book is how it took us through those six days and the final twenty-four hours in an attempt to explain what the nation was facing in those days days and hours.
Twenty years are not, perhaps, a very long time for a nation to cast off an old and long-established belief, but it must be done if the people of Japan are to live in a world of today rather than yesterday. An admirable goal set in 1965 when this book was written, and I really wonder if many members of the Pacific War Research Society lived long enough for it to happen--some stay it still hasn't, I'd argue it only came to be in 2002 with the opening of Peace Memorial Hall and the public admission of guilt. It's not about pointing fingers but rather about looking back at one's own role in world affairs.
The Divinity of the Emperor and preserving polity are at the crux of this book and the conflicts leading up to the decision to surrender, and part of what frustrated me was how little I know about Hirohito. I don't know the connection between the Emperor and the Sacred Crane, I don't understand the Divinity, I don't quite get the theory of the 'hundred-hear history' that only goes as far back as Meiji since the Emperor system existed prior to Meiji, albeit in a different form. There's so much I still want to know and I think I'm going to be devouring everything I can find on Hirohito. Ashamedly, I couldn't even remember the name of the reign of the current emperor, though I knew I'd heard it before and should know. I knew Taisho from the talk of Sakurajima's explosion in Taisho and anyone who's studied anything about Japan knows Meiji, but I couldn't name the current one.
The book [p. 18, 21, 24, 29-31, 82-85] has a lot to say about the Emperor and his role, but I was shocked to learn that it's not a case of what he says goes. I knew now that the Emperor is more of a figurehead but didn't realise that his role, as far back as the close of WW2, was mainly to agree with what the government had decided. What I really found powerful was how rational a man he seemed to be. "...I am not concerned with what happens to me. I want to preserve the lives of my people. I do not want them subjected to further destruction." I think that played a large role in getting the Cabinet to accept the terms of the reply to the proposed surrender. They saw preserving polity as key, Hirohito saw the saving of lives. This is interesting to read in retrospect because now, of course we know he lived and as allowed to continue as Emperor but is also interesting in light of the recent and ongoing debate over changes to the the Constitution [see also Wiki].
"...he was the personification and image of the sacred homeland they had sworn to protect until death, the symbol of Japan's immortality"...
And yet he was so humble, offered to speak to the troops, to the Imperial Guard. To explain his decision. Amazing. I also find it shocking that to hear his voice was such a rare treasure, can anyone imagine a world leader today shutting up long enough that their voice would be considered as such?
February 26th is mentioned quite regularly throughout the book, but at no point do the authors explain it. I'd guess because they knew most of their contemporaries knew all about it--here's some info for the rest of us--where would I be without wiki?! I also feel some shame that I know little to nothing about the Manchurian Incident--I'd like to say we never studied any of this at school because I can't imagine forgetting it given that I tend to remember most of history class because it was one of my favourite subjects but...
With regard to Anami's suicide, which is mentioned even on the book flaps, it's almost possible to have a look into the Japanese attitude towards seppuku. When discussion and debate was raging over whether to accept the US Govt's response, one of the Navy officers said to Suzuki that Anami would kill himself and Suzuki's response "that will be very regrettable". It's just so matter of fact, guess because it's been a part of their way for so long. I also found interesting [p.294] the thought process that goes into the decision on where to commit the act, every bit of it has meaning. "Anami had lived, and died, like a Japanese, a samurai, a man to be respected". I thought that was perhaps the most touching line, a beautiful characterization of a man so central to the events of this time.
"...though we boast that Japan is sacred and indestructible, are willing to surrender without enaging the enemy on our homeland...". But in a sense, they had. Okinawa. I liked how the authors ran the c'oup throughout the chapters, weaving back and forth between the players. Really conveyed the emotional investment of the players as well as made it clear that the actual plans went on beyond the c'oup. I would also think that this is the first time I've read an account of a planned c'oup that's not treated with blatant distaste.
"The strains of 'Kimigayo', the Japanese national anthem, followed. Then, after a brief pause, out of the sky came the long-awaited, the revered, the troubled but peaceful Voice of the Crane: 'To Our good and loyal subjects....'"
A beautiful ending to what I consider to be a 'beautiful' book. Is it wrong to consider a book about war 'beautiful'? Probably, but I don't consider this to be a book about war so much as a quest for peace.
November 18, 2008
This was a very intense book, outlining the events in Japan leading up to their surrender in WWII. Previously, I had not known that a coup was attempted by a few radicals who were unable to let go of the war effort. The portrait of the Minister of War is especially interesting given that his suicide had a compeletely opposite meaning than the suicides committed by high-ranking Nazis in Germany. Very interesting and a great read.
October 24, 2016
At times highly engaging, but so incredibly in-depth that it will alienate anyone looking for a casual read. And I may be stupid, but the vast array of government and army titles/positions/ranks constantly flying off the pages was frequently too much to retain.
June 9, 2020
توقعت أن أرى مشهد بانورامي لما قبل اتفاق وقف اطلاق النار لكن ماشاهدته اعادة لاجتماعات لاتنتهي لقرار قبول الاستسلام كتاب ضعيف وغير مجدي لمحبي التاريخ.
July 19, 2020
Japan's longest "day", which lasted much more than 24 hours, stretched from late on 8 August 1945 when the Soviet Union declared war on Japan; through Soviet invasion, the decision to surrender and the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on 9 August; the final decision of the Emperor to accept unconditional surrender in the early hours of 10 August; an attempted coup later that day; and finally, the broadcast of the Emperor's announcement of surrender.
My original intention in reading this book was to get some detail on what happened on 9 August before news of the Nagasaki bomb reached the government. The book's account certainly supports the view that key figures in the Japanese government including Prime Minister Suzuki had decided that unconditional surrender was essential even before the Nagasaki bomb and not, as is widely believed, because of it and the Hiroshima bomb. But this book turned out to be much more than that. It is a real page turner, unfolding a detailed story of Japan's agonised and convoluted progress to the the end of the war and the end of the Japanese empire. In the course of this, it reveals remarkable insights into the narrow and essentially deluded thinking of the military at the end of the war and staggering reverence for the Emperor. It is a book of action, of political manoeuvring, bravery, personal antagonism, rebellion and murder but it is also a book about the life - and death - of individuals, like the slow suicide death of War Minster General Anami.
Certainly, it has its weaknesses. The Emperor, in whose name the war was fought, is deified. He is presented as a sort of constitutional monarch, yet it was his decision, and not that of his government which was split, that brought the war to an end when it did. There is no questioning of why he took that decision when he did and not say in early March after Tokyo was largely destroyed and maybe 200,000 of its citizens killed. For me its greatest weakness, given that it was claimed to be based on first hand accounts of participants in the events of that day, is that none of the events are attributed to individual informants. It is a defect that damages the book's credibility and limits its value as a resource for historians. This is not something that should impact on the average reader however.
Overall I recommend it highly.
My original intention in reading this book was to get some detail on what happened on 9 August before news of the Nagasaki bomb reached the government. The book's account certainly supports the view that key figures in the Japanese government including Prime Minister Suzuki had decided that unconditional surrender was essential even before the Nagasaki bomb and not, as is widely believed, because of it and the Hiroshima bomb. But this book turned out to be much more than that. It is a real page turner, unfolding a detailed story of Japan's agonised and convoluted progress to the the end of the war and the end of the Japanese empire. In the course of this, it reveals remarkable insights into the narrow and essentially deluded thinking of the military at the end of the war and staggering reverence for the Emperor. It is a book of action, of political manoeuvring, bravery, personal antagonism, rebellion and murder but it is also a book about the life - and death - of individuals, like the slow suicide death of War Minster General Anami.
Certainly, it has its weaknesses. The Emperor, in whose name the war was fought, is deified. He is presented as a sort of constitutional monarch, yet it was his decision, and not that of his government which was split, that brought the war to an end when it did. There is no questioning of why he took that decision when he did and not say in early March after Tokyo was largely destroyed and maybe 200,000 of its citizens killed. For me its greatest weakness, given that it was claimed to be based on first hand accounts of participants in the events of that day, is that none of the events are attributed to individual informants. It is a defect that damages the book's credibility and limits its value as a resource for historians. This is not something that should impact on the average reader however.
Overall I recommend it highly.
August 29, 2020
رغم النقص و الضعف في الترجمة فان المقدمة بما تتلخصه المترجمة كان رائعا و متسلسلا لذا كما اوضحت المترجمة في بداية مقدمة الكتاب انه لابد من فهم الاحداث بشكل متسلسل كي تصبح الصورة الكاملة عن اليابان خلال فترة ما قبل الانهيار ، هذا الكتاب يمثل بالنسبة لي اشبه ما يكون الى ميثاق الشرف الامبراطوري لما تضمنه من قرارات صعبة كان على القادة اليابانيين المتعصبين مواجهتها بحزم ،بالطبع فكما نعلم ان اليابان كانت تواجه مرحلة صعبة جدا في تاريخها في ذلك الوقت اي عام 1945 ، على الرغم من اوروبا سقطت في وحل الشيوعية السوفيتية ، فلا يمكننا ابدا مغاضاة نظرنا على ان الشيوعية السوفيتية كان لها الاثر الاكبر حتى بعد القاء الولايات المتحدة القنبلتين النوويتين على هيروشيما و ناغازاكي ، اذ كان هذان الحدثان فاصلان جدا من الناحية المبدئية فأن السوفيت تجاهلو قرار الاميركيين بضرب المدينتين اليابانيتين المذكورتين ، و لكن اذا نظرنا الى الاحداث بشكل معمق و بسرد تفصيلي واضح بعيدا عن هامشية الكتاب ، فسوف نرى جانبين مهمين خلال اتخاذ اليابان خيار الاستسلام و هو لا يعد ضغطا من القيادة اليابانية الرفيعة المستوى على الامبراطور الياباني الذي يعتبر سليل الهة الشمس هيروهيتو ، الجانب الاول : هو ذلك الجانب الذي يعد الجانب التاريخي المتقدم و هو امر لا مفر منه حيث اتيحت فرصة مهاجمة الولايات المتحدة بقرار متعجل جدا في نهايات عام 1944 و هو موعد الهجوم الياباني بغواصاتهم على لوس انجلوس ، الجانب الثاني : الجانب التاريخي المتاخر وهو تحديد موعد استسلام اليابان المؤجل ، وهو ذلك الجانب الذي قصدته الولايات المتحدة دون اي تعبير يذكر للقيادة اليابانية ومن دون مشورات قياداتها حتى ، فلنعلم جيدا و للتذكير فأن الجندي الياباني يختلف جذريا عن الجندي الالماني الذي خاض معاركه جنبا الى جانبا و لعبا معا دورا مهما في تقاسم العالم من جهة و تحصيل الارادة التاريخية من جهة اخرى ، فاذا نظرنا الى الجندي الالماني فهو قد اقسم بولاءه طاعة لهتلر قسم يمين ، اما الجندي الياباني فولاءه يكون للامبراطور قبل الوطن لان الامبراطور يعني الوطن و ليس العكس و هذا المبدأ انعكس على النفسية السايكولوجية اليابانية في حربهم على جبهة المحيط الهادئ ، اذا ان لا يوجد استسلام لدى الجندي الياباني ، لان الاستسلام لديه يعني الشيئ المخزي الذي سيجلب له و لعائلته و لوطنه و لامبراطوره العار طوال حياته و هو يعد قاسيا جدا بالنسبة له ، لذا اما الانتحار لكي ينال نصيبه من ذلك الشرف و يغسل عاره او الموت و هو مستمر في قتاله على ارض المعركة
February 28, 2024
نبذة:-
كواليس مجريات لقاءات صُنّاع القرار في اليابان للتوافق حول موقف من الاستسلام غير المشروط وفقاً لمقررات مؤتمر بوتسدام (الحلفاء) في الحرب العالمية الثانية؛ من بنوده: فرض نمط من الوصاية على البلد، ومحاكمة شخصيات رسمية بتهم ارتكاب جرائم حرب.
بين تأييد ومعارضة صراع نفسي يتأجج لدى أفراد كلتا الجبهتين! مصير شعب يتأرجح بين نيران الحلفاء وشبح حرب أهلية، وسط تكهنات بوقوع انقلاب عسكري! ضبابية تفرض على محرري الصحف إعداد نموذجين من نفس العدد، وقرارات مزورة تستدرج عسكريين لتنفيذ خطة لم يقرها رئيسهم! انكسار ودموع (24) رجل تجاه وقائع (24) ساعة!
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تقييم:-
محطة من الواقع، تؤرِّخ تفاصيل حول جانب من حرب غير معاصرة في مسرح جغرافي لا نعيش فيه؛ غير أنها في جوهرها تحمل رسالة تخاطب كل واحد من بيننا وأينما يكون! التنازل، خيارٌ يحتمل تصنيفه وجهاً للشجاعة في حالات؛ فرصة لبداية جديدة نقية!
حرفية عالية عند تجسيد البُعد السكيولوجي وبراعة في تصوير الانفعالات، ولَّد عندي حالة من التعاطف وشيء من الإعجاب تجاه بعض الشخصيات، لمست لدى فئة بقعة مضيئة تجلت في سلوك أو حوار أو موقف. إنما في الضفة الأخرى، هناك فظاعات ارتُكِبَت (بالبحث في مصادر خارجية تتضح الصورة أكثر). المفارقة أن من نصَّب نفسه قاضياً له سجل انتهاكات، (قنبلة هيروشيما مثالاً)!
سرد ممتع، منعطفات محدودة، عملية الطباعة تفتقر للدقة.
يمثل الإصدار بوابة لاكتشاف جانب من الوجه المظلم للسلطة السياسية في اليابان في حقبة ما.
تمنيت لو أُرفق محتوى تعزيزي كصور الشخصيات (سيما مع تعقيد أسماء غالبيتها وتشابه البعض منها)، أو ملف صوتي لخطاب الأمبراطور.
استُهِل النص بلمحة عن حروب واتفاقيات اليابان ونظام الحكم فيها، وضُمنت آخر الصفحات فهرس.
وفقاً لمراجعة قاريء في Goodreads فهناك بتر لبعض الجزئيات (موجود في النسخة الإنجليزية دون العربية).
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Japan's Longest Day
التصنيف: وثائقي تاريخي
المؤلف: مجموعة من الباحثين
ترجمة: فدوى فاضل
مؤسسة النشر: المدى
تاريخ النشر: 2019 (الطبعة الأولى)، صدرت النسخة الأصلية في 1 يناير 1968.
عدد الصفحات: 262
January 16, 2023
Que libro tan excelente. Una crónica, hora por hora, del como se vivió el último día de la guerra en Japón.
El libro logra hacerte entender por que japón marcho a la guerra en 1937 y por que fue tan dificil salirse de ella. Incluso después de 2 bombas atómicas, millones de muertos, y una situación sin salida el gobierno japonés seguía pensando que era demasiado pronto para rendirse.
En efecto, el gobierno le tenia miedo a su propio ejército e incluso ya que todo estaba perdido y los aliados les estaban ofreciendo una salida no tan onerosa, la mayoria de los mandos medios en el ejercito se negaban a aceptar la derrota. Pereferían la muerte antes que el deshonor.
El libro se centra en las dificilisimas negociasiones que los lideres civiles tuvieron que tener con los ministros del ejercito y la marina, la intervención sin precedentes del emperador, y el abortivo intento de golpe de estado por parte del ejercito para intentar evitar la rendición.
Mi queja principal con este libro es la cantidad de personajes que introduce: oficiales medios del ejercito, asistentes de los grandes miembros del gabinete, empleados de la cadena televisiva japonesa.... creo que no necesito tantos nombres. Era confuso a veces.
Anyway, muy buena lectura que se disfruta como thriller.
El libro logra hacerte entender por que japón marcho a la guerra en 1937 y por que fue tan dificil salirse de ella. Incluso después de 2 bombas atómicas, millones de muertos, y una situación sin salida el gobierno japonés seguía pensando que era demasiado pronto para rendirse.
En efecto, el gobierno le tenia miedo a su propio ejército e incluso ya que todo estaba perdido y los aliados les estaban ofreciendo una salida no tan onerosa, la mayoria de los mandos medios en el ejercito se negaban a aceptar la derrota. Pereferían la muerte antes que el deshonor.
El libro se centra en las dificilisimas negociasiones que los lideres civiles tuvieron que tener con los ministros del ejercito y la marina, la intervención sin precedentes del emperador, y el abortivo intento de golpe de estado por parte del ejercito para intentar evitar la rendición.
Mi queja principal con este libro es la cantidad de personajes que introduce: oficiales medios del ejercito, asistentes de los grandes miembros del gabinete, empleados de la cadena televisiva japonesa.... creo que no necesito tantos nombres. Era confuso a veces.
Anyway, muy buena lectura que se disfruta como thriller.
January 27, 2022
١-بالرغم من سوء الترجمة الواضح لكنه في العموم كتاب جيد يعكس الحالة النفسية بكل دقة للمسئولين اليابانيين اكثر منه ككتاب تأريخ لهذه الفترة او الليلة كما قال الكاتب.... بمعنى انه ينفع يستقطع منه رواية
٢- للوهلة الأولى تعتقد أن أطول يوم في تاريخ اليابان كان عند انفجار القنابل النووية و لكن الكاتب مر علي هذه الحادثة مرور الكرام.... و ده كان مستغرب جدا.
٢-بالطبع به الكثير من الحشو و التطويل لمواقف باتت معروفة من كثرة تكرارها مثل موقف الامبراطور من الاستسلام الذي تكرر كثيرا و طول الرواية اقصد الكتاب في انتظار خطاب الإمبراطور الأمر الذي ادي الي توقفي عن قرائته عدة مرات ... بمعنى حتحس بالملل في الكثير من الصفحات
٣- الكتاب اوصلني _قد يكون بدون قصد الكاتب _ الي ان مشكلة اليابانيين لم تكن الخوف على البلاد بقدر ما كانت الخوف على الحالة المزاجية الإمبراطور بسبب الاستسلام. قد يكون ذلك بسبب اقتران الإمبراطورية بهوية اليابانيين و بالطبع تقديسهم له
٤- الكتاب يهدف الي توضيح شجاعة اليابانيين سواء في اتخاذ قرار الاستسلام او الاصرار على المقاومة حتى بعد ضرب قنبلتين نوويتين. و بالتالي يفسر سر نهوضهم سريعا حتى صار يطلق عليهم عن جدارة كوكب اليابان 😂😂
٥- نصيحة لكل مقبل على الكتاب ان يقوم بتسجيل اسماء الشخصيات و وظائفهم..... هم حوالي ٢٠ شخصية بس صعب جدا تحفظهم
٢- للوهلة الأولى تعتقد أن أطول يوم في تاريخ اليابان كان عند انفجار القنابل النووية و لكن الكاتب مر علي هذه الحادثة مرور الكرام.... و ده كان مستغرب جدا.
٢-بالطبع به الكثير من الحشو و التطويل لمواقف باتت معروفة من كثرة تكرارها مثل موقف الامبراطور من الاستسلام الذي تكرر كثيرا و طول الرواية اقصد الكتاب في انتظار خطاب الإمبراطور الأمر الذي ادي الي توقفي عن قرائته عدة مرات ... بمعنى حتحس بالملل في الكثير من الصفحات
٣- الكتاب اوصلني _قد يكون بدون قصد الكاتب _ الي ان مشكلة اليابانيين لم تكن الخوف على البلاد بقدر ما كانت الخوف على الحالة المزاجية الإمبراطور بسبب الاستسلام. قد يكون ذلك بسبب اقتران الإمبراطورية بهوية اليابانيين و بالطبع تقديسهم له
٤- الكتاب يهدف الي توضيح شجاعة اليابانيين سواء في اتخاذ قرار الاستسلام او الاصرار على المقاومة حتى بعد ضرب قنبلتين نوويتين. و بالتالي يفسر سر نهوضهم سريعا حتى صار يطلق عليهم عن جدارة كوكب اليابان 😂😂
٥- نصيحة لكل مقبل على الكتاب ان يقوم بتسجيل اسماء الشخصيات و وظائفهم..... هم حوالي ٢٠ شخصية بس صعب جدا تحفظهم
June 17, 2025
An incredible read, Japan's Lomgest Day provides a window into the Japanese government at the tip of World War 2. It provides a needed complexity to rhe decisions that not just the Japan, but the Allied powers as well needed to make to stop everything from falling into dissary.
While largely due to the huge complexity in the real-world people, the beliefs held by the Japanese Officials were incredibly diverse and presented as such, and the rationales presented for them are present in the text.
The prose is written more like a novel than a historical record at many points, but this does not draw away from the history or cause issues with explaining it; quite the contrary, it actually enhances the readability and enjormemt of the text, at least in my case. Sometimes it could feel unclear what exactly was happening it points, but I am pretty sure that was just me.
Overall, Japan's Longest Day is a fantastic book that provides important complexity to a topic schools--at least in America--seem to just brush past, and it does all of this with the interest and historical accuracy needed to make it a great and educational read. Highly recommend.
While largely due to the huge complexity in the real-world people, the beliefs held by the Japanese Officials were incredibly diverse and presented as such, and the rationales presented for them are present in the text.
The prose is written more like a novel than a historical record at many points, but this does not draw away from the history or cause issues with explaining it; quite the contrary, it actually enhances the readability and enjormemt of the text, at least in my case. Sometimes it could feel unclear what exactly was happening it points, but I am pretty sure that was just me.
Overall, Japan's Longest Day is a fantastic book that provides important complexity to a topic schools--at least in America--seem to just brush past, and it does all of this with the interest and historical accuracy needed to make it a great and educational read. Highly recommend.
February 19, 2020
الكتاب رائع و الأحداث الدرامية واقعية مما يدفعك اضطرارا للبحث عما جرى في الأسابيع الحاسمة عبر وسائل أخرى و هي خير وسيلة لفتح أفكارك على تعقيدات التاريخ و الإنسان. حذفت نجمة واحدة فقط و لم تكن لتحذف لولا أنني وجدت صعوبة في تذكر و تمييز الأسماء اليابانية. ساعدني في ذالك طباعة ترجمة الشخصيات الرئيسية من وكيبديا و دمجها مع الكتاب للرجوع للإسم و الصورة.
رحلة في زمن و ثقافة موازية...
رحلة في زمن و ثقافة موازية...
May 16, 2022
نجمتان ونصف..
واحدة لأجل المحتوى والموضوع، والثانية لأجل الترجمة، والنصف للسرد الروائي.
موضوع شيّق لكني ضعت في الأسماء جداً وأخطاء التحرير سواء في الأسماء نفسها أو في غيرها زاد التشتيت.
ما الذي حدث في اليابان السياسية بعد قنبلتَي هيروشيما وناغازاكي؟ هل توافق على الاستسلام أم تصرّ على مواصلة الحرب؟
واحدة لأجل المحتوى والموضوع، والثانية لأجل الترجمة، والنصف للسرد الروائي.
موضوع شيّق لكني ضعت في الأسماء جداً وأخطاء التحرير سواء في الأسماء نفسها أو في غيرها زاد التشتيت.
ما الذي حدث في اليابان السياسية بعد قنبلتَي هيروشيما وناغازاكي؟ هل توافق على الاستسلام أم تصرّ على مواصلة الحرب؟
December 19, 2022
A thoroughly detailed record of the empire's last breaths and the desperation of the young, furious extremist, Maj. Kenji Hatanaka, who sought to forestall Japan's surrender and provoke an Allied invasion.
September 20, 2019
An engrossing read about the events leading up to Japan's surrender in WW2, aka Japan's Longest Day. Although nonfiction, the entire story is like a thriller novel. Highly recommended.
March 24, 2020
أحداث جسام يرويها يابانيون عاشوا اللحظات الحاسمة من عمر الإميراطورية
April 3, 2020
٣.٥ للدقة
April 8, 2021
وثيقة تاريخية مهمة أرخت لحدث مفصلي أثناء الحرب العالمية الثانية لكن للأسف افسدتها سوء الترجمة والأخطاء الطباعية....
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September 16, 2021نافذة على جنون العسكر ولكنك لن تجد خسة او نذالة
December 27, 2021
عبارة عن تفصيلات يوم 14 و15 آب يوم استسلام اليابان , هذا الكتاب أشبه برواية وأشكك هل كتبه مجموعةمن الباحثين أم لا ,انه هراء لا فائدة تاريخية منه
June 1, 2024
لا بأس به، كنت أظنه عن لحظات الانفجار وآثاره، فإذا به عن قرار الاستسلام وما يتبعه من عواقب.
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