Analysis of the Japanese History Bibliography

Analysis of the Japanese History Bibliography Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Khauls Schlichtumann, Japan in the World: Shidehara Kijuro, Pacifism, and the Abolition of War. New York, Toronto. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc. (2009). Volume 1. 494. Author’s Profile Japanese History Bibliography is written by Klaus Schlichtmann. Schlichtmann was born and grew in Hamburg Germany in 1944. He developed an early interest in Buddhism and Asian culture which made him move to India to teach German from 1964 to 1966 at the University of Benares Sanskrit. Schlichtmann becomes a peace activist participating in preparation for the establishment of German’s Green Party after a period of working as a jazz musician and fine artist. He later becomes the chairman of the West German branch of the World Federalist Movement from 1980 to 1992. Schlichtmann continued with his advanced studies at Kiel University in Schlwig Holstein, Germany, obtaining a master degree in 1977. In 1997, Schlichtmann earned himself a Ph.D. in Asian history, political science and international and public law. From 1960, Klaus Schlichtumann developed an in-depth interest in Buddhist literature and the East which made him gain sufficient knowledge in the field of Japan history. Joining the peace and environment movement in India provided him with an appropriate base for learning the Asian culture as he desired. He conducted his Master's degree thesis on focused on Shidehara diplomacy whereby he researched Shidehara Peace Collection in Japan National Diet Library. The studies especially the research part equipped the author with appropriate knowledge that would play a major role in dealing with the subject of Japan in the world. Summary of the Book The book is divided into topics which are addressed differently. The topics include a world without war: Shidehara as a foreign minister, 1924-1931; from the Manchurian crisis to the end of the Second World War 1931-1945; Shidehara, 1945-1951; and Japanese pacifism and politics after Second World War. The author begins with a recapitulation of the volume one which defines the role of Shidehara in establishing foreign policies which enhanced the status of international relation, especially with other powerful countries thus making Japan a predictable, reliable, and equal partner in the international context (g. 13). According to Schlichtumann, Shidehara was among the special people who have greatly contributed to the growth and development of Japan and therefore deserve to remain in the throne as a Japanese Reservoir with vast knowledge and experience of both English and the West. In this book, the nuclear predicament and the nuclear age are defined as the conditioning factors that facilitated the realization of perpetual peace. Shidehara cabinet established a War Investigation Commission which advised the government to draft a new post-violence constitution in 1946. The commission was chaired by Shidehara as the prime minister who strengthened the article 9 on the Japanese constitution (Pg. 15). This indicates that Shidehara played a significant role in the establishment of peace and stability in Japan before and after the war period. He stood to resist ultra-nationalism and militarism which tried to impose the expansionist and interventionist agenda of Japan’s foreign policy. In memory of Shidehara after his death on 1951 out of heart attack, the government officials in collaboration with the president of the Bank of Japan established Shidehara Heiwa Zaidan (Shidehara Peace Foundation) which was chaired by Tokugawa Lemasa. The foundation was responsible for the compilation of bibliography and foundation of Shidehara Heiwa Bunko (Shidehara Peace Library) that was attached to the National Diet (Pg. 17). Shidehara diplomacy focused on peace establishment before, during and after World War II in Japan as indicated in the various researches conducted. As presented in the book, the first phase of Shidehara diplomacy took place between 1924-1927 and the second phase in 1929-1931 (Pg. 19). The details of peace establishment as recorded during the era of Shidehara were obtained from the materials from the Ministry of Foreign affairs and the undocumented army document. While reading the history of Japan as written through the influence of Marxist interpretations, one may be misled on the contribution of Shidehara in peace establishment after the Second World War. However, through the twentieth-century international peace movements that involved the active participation of the parliamentarian and diplomats would greatly help to locate in a larger context the contribution of Shidehara in peace establishment in Japan (Pg. 21). From the author’s perspective, the major challenges experienced in Japan were social and economic instability. The political temperatures were high with the political parties like the Seiyukai and Kenseikai estranged from one another lea...