Review of Embracing Defeat History Book Review Essay

REVIEW OF EMBRACING DEFEAT
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Review of Embracing Defeat
The book written by John Dower gives a significant insight into the history and relationship of countries such as the United States and Japan after the first and second world wars and the post-war period. The periods during and after the war led many countries across the globe into economic crisis due to the high investments made to finance the activities and also the resources destroyed in the events. Dower states that the post-war period between 1920 and 1930 leads to depression and instability. Most leaders including the Japanese ruler did not know how to restore their economies. The Japanese economy suffered retrenchment, with slow economic growth, high rates of inflation and a series of crisis due to the unsettled financial system. The citizens and subjects to the empire suffered the consequences of the instability directly from incidences like high prices for basic needs and lack of employment opportunities. However, the Japanese conquered Asia and abducted more of the country's economic resources. This event helped in the revival of the financial system in the country and enhanced economic growth. The incident marked a great time for the Japanese in history through the conquering of their great army. Hence, the Japanese revived to an excellent economic position, even after the impact of the First World War.[John W. Dower, Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II (1999)]
However, Japan lost the war to the United States. The news about the American army conquering the country came in on 15th August 1945. Although the Japanese had won over Asia in the First World war, the Second World War did not work in their favour, resulting in great loss both economic and in the social perspective of life. The country could lose resources to the victorious countries. The economy would then go through another tragic elapse leading to instability. Most of the subject working for the great Japanese empire would then lose their jobs and enter into a phase of scarcity and low living standards. On the other hand, the population of the country would decrease since the Japanese military would rather face death than defeat. Hence, most of the surviving individuals in the army would eventually commit suicide following the bitterness due to defeat in the war. What would become of the families depending on them for livelihood? Some of the people in the army had died during the war. “For three years, Aihara continued to pray for her husband's return. Only then did she learn that he had been killed in a battle with Soviet forces five days before she was summoned from the fields to hear her sovereign's voice. The war had, after all, permanently shattered her life." The life of the families of the deceased soldiers in Japanese history turned to drastic nightmares, with all blame turning to America.[Dower] [ John W. Dower, Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II (1999)]
While Japan suffered the loss of surrendering to America during the war, the latter nourished with excellent economic growth. However, the American government would not render the surviving Japanese soldiers the freedom to return to their home country regardless of the victory they had achieved. This conspiracy originated from the mean nature of the Americans resolving to receive the surrender letters before the action. Hence, both the economy and political stability of Japan depended on the agreement. How could the country revive without national protection? How could the leaders approach the citizens while some of the family members, friends and the more of a reason for everyone in the country, fellow citizens? Although Japan had faced more tragedy from the loss in the war, America could not relent to the demands regarding the release of the enslaved military. “Still, to most patriots, the surrender ceremony "spelt doom," as one American general present on Missouri put it.” The surrender ceremony proved great significance to the American leaders. The Japanese had to act towards their demands immediately since they did not know what the Americans had in store for them apart from the war.[Dower]
The Americans ignored factors like historically witnessed the impacts of imperialism and colonialism. One would think that the country did not worry about global but considered nation economic growth. How then will they embrace development on their own? They needed the factors of production such as labour and also interaction through activities like trade. In this case, business transactions with countries like Japan turned to a primary nightmare considering their interaction during the Second World War. “They watched helplessly as firebombs destroyed their cities -all the while listening to their leaders natter on about how it might be necessary for the “hundred million" all to die "like shattered jewels.” The co...