Japan Must Fight Britain: (Paternoster Library, Number XI, 1937 edition)

English-language edition of Tota Ishimaru's work arguing why Japan would need to fight Britain, translated for the Paternoster Library series.

About the Book

Originally published in Japanese in 1933 as "Nichiei Haisen Ron" (The Theory of Japanese-British War), the book was authored by Tanaka Tōji and Nakano Seigō. The English version, published in 1937, aimed to influence British public opinion. The core argument was that war between the two nations was inevitable and that Britain would be unable to defend its vast Asian colonial interests against a determined Japan. The book's authors presented a vision of a new, Japanese-led order in Asia, arguing that Britain's decline was irreversible.

Its Significance

The book's significance lies in several key areas:

• Propaganda: It served as a piece of psychological warfare. By directly addressing a foreign audience, the Japanese government (or at least factions within it) sought to weaken British resolve and discourage military action in the Pacific. It was designed to make the British believe that a war with Japan was unwinnable.

• Historical Context: The book's publication in 1937 is crucial. This was a period when Japan was expanding its influence in China and preparing for a potential conflict with Western powers. The book reflects the aggressive, expansionist mindset of certain Japanese military and political figures at the time. It provides a primary source look into the nationalist and militaristic ideology that was gaining prominence in Japan.

• Foreshadowing of War: The book eerily foreshadows the events of World War II in the Pacific. Its arguments about Britain's inability to defend its Far Eastern colonies were proven correct to a large extent by the Japanese invasions of Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong in 1941-1942.