Why did I write this book? I spent three years in Japan immediately following the end of World War II. No one knew how Japan would accept unconditional surrender: cooperation with occupying forces or continued suicide resistance? The Kamikaze pilots had proven to be an effective weapon late in the war. Would such attacks continue? Or was the war really over?
During my three years in Japan I witnessed the developing interaction between the occupied Japanese and the occupying Americans. I experienced firsthand the growing trust and respect that grew between us. I decided to write about my experiences before they became lost. Why? Because they do offer a different perspective on how and why an hated enemy, Japan, became our steadfast friend. My book is also written as a first person account because I wanted the reader to share fully my experience.
To fully feel the mood of the times, I have included a "Prelude" section, with accompanying pictures, so that the reader may be reminded of the bitter hatred that existed between the Americans and the Japanese. I then describe my time in Japan by first focusing on my marriage to another American, then reporting our honeymoon trip around Mount Fuji, following by other significant events during my tour of duty in Japan. I also attempted to show, thru multiple examples with pictures, how the ongoing development of understanding and trust took place between the occupied and the occupiers.
Instead of continuing the hatred for each other, the Japanese and Americans put that behind them and worked together to achieve important objectives based on common interests. It truly is a remarkable story.
Could the meaningful and timelylessons learned there be applied to our current situation in the Middle East? If not, why not?