D O U G S H I N S A T O
101 Lesser Known Facts Related to The Attack on Pearl Harbor
P r e s s R e l e a s e
October 4, 2013
Kamuela, Hawaii
Publisher, eXperience, inc.
Published today, 101 Lesser Known Facts Related to the Attack on Pearl Harbor, written by Douglas Shinsato, is a "tourist's guide" covering the political, economic and military tensions that led to US involvement in World War II.
His lesser known facts are based on the research he did for two translations. The first, into English, was the autobiography of Mitsuo Fuchida, leader of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The second, into Japanese, was the memoir of Elaine Fischel, a member of the American legal team at the Tokyo War Crimes Trial, which defended Japan's top two admirals and Emperor Hirohito's political advisor.
101 Lesser Known Facts Related to the Attack on Pearl Harbor begins in 1853 with the arrival at Tokyo Bay of the US Navy's Black Ships, which forcibly opened Shogunate Japan to the rest of the world. This destabilized feudal Japan, led to a civil war, and put Japan on a path of modernization, militarization and imperial conquest.
Their victory in the Russo-Japan War--that resulted in the annihilation of the Russian Asiatic and Baltic fleets--meant that Japan was the major military power in the Asiatic Pacific. This posed a threat to America's newly won colony, the Philippines. Consequently, the US Navy began war planning against the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1905.
Several of the lesser known events and facts are based on the author's discussions with Pacific War participants or their family members. The 101 facts include events following the attack and conclude with lessons from the Tokyo War Crimes Trial.
F o r w o r d
"I have known Douglas Shinsato for many years, and I am pleased that he has puttogether “101 Facts” that help to explain the events leading up to the Pacific War.The “101 Facts” you are about to read cover what I believe are the major reasonsthat Japan went to war with the Allies, in general, and the United States,specifically. They cover the political, military, economic and diplomatic issuessurrounding the decision to attack Pearl Harbor.I have written many articles and a book about the diplomatic history related to thePacific War. My grandfather, Shigenori Togo, was Japanʼs Foreign Minister fromOctober, 1941 until September, 1942. He tried to prevent war with the UnitedStates and was removed from the Cabinet. When it was clear that Japan would godown in defeat, in April, 1945, Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki asked him to join theCabinet in an effort to end the war.I know that you will enjoy this concise book of facts leading up to the attack onPearl Harbor."Shigehiko Togo, Former Washington Post Reporter and Author of "A Biography ofMy Grandfather, Shigenori Togo"
A u t h o r ' s N o t e
The facts in this book are part of history, but they can teach us lessons about key
issues that we all face today: national ambitions; cultural and religious differences; immigration issues; economic instability and sanctions; spying; and doublestandards for applying the rule of law.
I hope that readers will learn at least one new fact about the attack that changed
the course of world history.
Doug
