Biography – Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan

This biography of Hirohito deservedly won the Pulitzer Prize and the National book critics circle award.

I read this biography in 2006. It is still the best biography on Hirohito. Bix spent 10 years researching this book. He shows clearly Hirohito ‘s culpability for the war in China and the Pacific war, why Mc Arthur deliberately protected Hirohito from war crimes prosecution and how all the Japanese generals and the cabinet with the US conspired for Prime Minister Tojo to take the rap.

It is a pity there is no bibliography in this book and Bix failed to fully expound on his personal thoughts in his Introduction. I recommend this 800-page book. It is a page-turner.

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