The Truth About War That Schools Don't Teach, a Modern History Series for Parents and Children, Reaches 7th Printing!
Hajime Marutani's book, "The Truth About War That Schools Don't Teach," has reached its 7th printing. The book examines Japan's actions during World War II and post-war historical perceptions from a perspective different from that guided by GHQ. While acknowledging Japan's mistakes, it questions claims that justify the US atomic bombings and views that unilaterally condemn Japan's war as entirely evil. The book encourages young people to understand that present-day Japan stands on the efforts and sacrifices of their predecessors and to build genuine friendly relations with other nations. Marutani is an international journalist and overseas security consultant.
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Even at this moment, tragic wars are taking place around the world. Most people understand that war should not happen, so why does it occur?
Looking back at human history, it is no exaggeration to say that it has been a history of war. In other words, if we desire peace, we must first properly understand "what war is."
On December 8, 1941, Japan declared war on the United States and Great Britain, initiating the major conflict known as the "Greater East Asia War." Three years and eight months later, on August 15, 1945, Japan accepted the "Potsdam Declaration" and was defeated.
Subsequently, after the American occupation, many Japanese were taught that "Japan committed many crimes in this war and caused trouble for other Asian countries," and were instructed to refer to the war as the "Pacific War" instead of the "Greater East Asia War." It was the American occupation forces (GHQ) that instilled this in the Japanese, but post-war Japanese uncritically accepted this guidance, and as a result, today, even the precious spirituality connecting us to our ancestors is being eroded.
However, isn't it about time we seriously try to understand what our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers were thinking when they started the Greater East Asia War and fell in battle?
Japan's advance into Asia was not simply an act by the arrogant Japanese of the time to bully Asians and dominate Asia. Nor was it the case that the indiscriminate bombing of Japanese cities by the United States, and the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, incinerating hundreds of thousands of Japanese, including women and children, was done reluctantly to stop such "evil" Japanese aggression.
It is true that Japan made many mistakes in the Greater East Asia War. These must be properly acknowledged and reflected upon. However, it is clearly absurd that even today, the United States insists that the two atomic bombings were "justified" and claims that all of Japan's war actions were evil.
This book is intended for young people with dreams of supporting Japan's future and working for world peace and development. Therefore, it is by no means a book to claim that "Japan was 100 percent right." It is hoped that as many young people and children as possible will read this book, understand the undeniable fact that their present selves are built upon the efforts and sacrifices of their predecessors, and learn about the influence Japan once had on the world, so that they will firmly protect this wonderful country of Japan while striving to build genuine friendly relations with people from other countries.
[Author Information]
Hajime Marutani
Born in 1974. Graduated from Australian National University. Withdrew from the Master's program at the same university. Starting as an interpreter and translator at the Australian War Memorial, he has been engaged in interpretation and translation for many years.
Currently, he works as an international journalist, giving lectures, writing, and appearing on television. Furthermore, based on his experience as a security manager guarding Japanese companies and expatriates at oil-related facilities in West Africa,
He also works as an overseas security consultant and has published several papers on counter-terrorism and security as a policy proposal committee member for the "Japan Strategic Research Forum."
He has been involved in business development overseas, including Papua New Guinea, and has participated as a coordinator in the production of programs for major overseas television stations and the publication of books. The war documentary program "Beyond Kokoda," produced in 2008, received numerous awards in his home country, Australia.
His books include "Kokoda: The Long Road of Battle," "Japan's Southern Strategy," "Was the Japanese Army Really 'Brutal'?" (Heart Publishing), and "Why Did ISIS Kill Japanese?" (PHP Institute).
[Book Information]
Title: The Truth About War That Schools Don't Teach
Author: Hajime Marutani
A5 size, 168 pages
ISBN: 978-4-8024-0008-4
Release: 2015.12.04
Price: 1,400 yen (excluding tax)
Publisher: Heart Publishing
Product URL: https://www.810.co.jp/hon/ISBN978-4-8024-0008-4.html
Looking back at human history, it is no exaggeration to say that it has been a history of war. In other words, if we desire peace, we must first properly understand "what war is."
On December 8, 1941, Japan declared war on the United States and Great Britain, initiating the major conflict known as the "Greater East Asia War." Three years and eight months later, on August 15, 1945, Japan accepted the "Potsdam Declaration" and was defeated.
Subsequently, after the American occupation, many Japanese were taught that "Japan committed many crimes in this war and caused trouble for other Asian countries," and were instructed to refer to the war as the "Pacific War" instead of the "Greater East Asia War." It was the American occupation forces (GHQ) that instilled this in the Japanese, but post-war Japanese uncritically accepted this guidance, and as a result, today, even the precious spirituality connecting us to our ancestors is being eroded.
However, isn't it about time we seriously try to understand what our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers were thinking when they started the Greater East Asia War and fell in battle?
Japan's advance into Asia was not simply an act by the arrogant Japanese of the time to bully Asians and dominate Asia. Nor was it the case that the indiscriminate bombing of Japanese cities by the United States, and the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, incinerating hundreds of thousands of Japanese, including women and children, was done reluctantly to stop such "evil" Japanese aggression.
It is true that Japan made many mistakes in the Greater East Asia War. These must be properly acknowledged and reflected upon. However, it is clearly absurd that even today, the United States insists that the two atomic bombings were "justified" and claims that all of Japan's war actions were evil.
This book is intended for young people with dreams of supporting Japan's future and working for world peace and development. Therefore, it is by no means a book to claim that "Japan was 100 percent right." It is hoped that as many young people and children as possible will read this book, understand the undeniable fact that their present selves are built upon the efforts and sacrifices of their predecessors, and learn about the influence Japan once had on the world, so that they will firmly protect this wonderful country of Japan while striving to build genuine friendly relations with people from other countries.
[Author Information]
Hajime Marutani
Born in 1974. Graduated from Australian National University. Withdrew from the Master's program at the same university. Starting as an interpreter and translator at the Australian War Memorial, he has been engaged in interpretation and translation for many years.
Currently, he works as an international journalist, giving lectures, writing, and appearing on television. Furthermore, based on his experience as a security manager guarding Japanese companies and expatriates at oil-related facilities in West Africa,
He also works as an overseas security consultant and has published several papers on counter-terrorism and security as a policy proposal committee member for the "Japan Strategic Research Forum."
He has been involved in business development overseas, including Papua New Guinea, and has participated as a coordinator in the production of programs for major overseas television stations and the publication of books. The war documentary program "Beyond Kokoda," produced in 2008, received numerous awards in his home country, Australia.
His books include "Kokoda: The Long Road of Battle," "Japan's Southern Strategy," "Was the Japanese Army Really 'Brutal'?" (Heart Publishing), and "Why Did ISIS Kill Japanese?" (PHP Institute).
[Book Information]
Title: The Truth About War That Schools Don't Teach
Author: Hajime Marutani
A5 size, 168 pages
ISBN: 978-4-8024-0008-4
Release: 2015.12.04
Price: 1,400 yen (excluding tax)
Publisher: Heart Publishing
Product URL: https://www.810.co.jp/hon/ISBN978-4-8024-0008-4.html