Grassroots Fascism profiles the Asia Pacific War (1937–1945)―the most important though least understood experience of Japan's modern history―through the lens of ordinary Japanese life. Moving deftly from the struggles of the home front to the occupied territories to the ravages of the front line; the book offers rare insights into popular experiences from the war's troubled beginnings through Japan's disastrous defeat in 1945 and the new beginning it heralded.Yoshimi Yoshiaki mobilizes diaries; letters; memoirs; and government documents to portray the ambivalent position of ordinary Japanese as both wartime victims and active participants. He also provides penetrating accounts of the war experiences of Japan's minorities and imperial subjects; including Koreans and Taiwanese. His book challenges the idea that the Japanese people operated as a mere conduit for the military during the war; passively accepting an imperial ideology imposed upon them by the political elite. Viewed from the bottom up; wartime Japan unfolds as a complex modern mass society; with a corresponding variety of popular roles and agendas.In chronicling the diversity of wartime Japanese social experience; Yoshimi's account elevates our understanding of "Japanese Fascism." In its relation of World War II to the evolution―and destruction―of empire; it makes a fresh contribution to the global history of the war. Ethan Mark's translation supplements the Japanese original with explanatory notes and an in-depth introduction that situates the work within Japanese studies and global history.
#295705 in Books Nibert David A 2013-05-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.90 x .90 x 6.00l; 1.05 #File Name: 0231151896352 pagesAnimal Oppression and Human Violence
Review
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. RelentlessBy RichardThis book offers a relentless look at how a divergent strain within our species has utilized animals to aid in their domination and outright destruction of other human beings. I'm no academic but Mr. Nibert appears to have been very thorough in his historical research. I've had to take the book in chunks in order to get my head wrapped around the immensity of the onslaught portrayed between its covers. Most who have looked beneath the covers of our current food system seek something to help make sense of what they have seen or at least to get a footing before moving forward with action. A historical perspective can provide that. If you are concerned that our treatment and use of animals today has become macabre; then I urge you to read this book. By providing my understanding of today's horror show with a historical context this book helps me to keep moving forward with compassionate choices and to work deliberately within my chosen profession towards bringing about a shift in consciousness. I hope you will find it beneficial as well.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Excellent!By Marcelo GalliThorough description of the history of domestication and how it shaped the course of history. Once humans learned to subjugate animals; he learned how to dominate other humans with the use of violence. A practice in use even today.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This book gave me a different and informative take on ...By Janice R. ClarkThis book gave me a different and informative take on history. My only complaint was that the facts were summarized at the end of chapters which seemed redundant.
