Description
Book SynopsisThis book is the English translation of a recent biography of Sakata Michita, one of Japan's leading, yet unassuming, politicians in the postwar era, who was even considered a serious contender for the premiership. While he did not become prime minister himself, he did serve as Justice Minister, Education Minister, Welfare Minister, Defense Minister, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. What's more, he served an incredible seventeen uninterrupted terms as a member of the Lower House, from 1946-1990, one of the longest in Japanese history. Sakata was appointed Director General of the Japan Defense Agency (i.e., Minister of Defense) in December 1974 during a challenging time in U.S.-Japan relations in the wake of the resignations of U.S. President Richard M. Nixon and Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei, for separate scandals. As Japan's only ally, the relationship with the United States was crucial for the latter country, and it was up to Sakata to manage alliance relations du
Trade ReviewRobert D. Eldridge deserves utmost thanks of those interested in Japan’s defense policy by translating Sase Masamori’s detailed biography of Japanese Defense Minister Michita Sakata. Sase Masamori’s clear explanations of Sakata’s undeterred role in creating Japan’s Basic Defense Force Concept, writing a landmark Defense White Paper, and producing the National Defense Program Guidelines as defense minister during a tumultuous period in Japanese politics are nothing short of professional and scholarly magnificence. -- James E. Auer, Vanderbilt University
Robert D. Eldridge could not have chosen a better book to translate. This is top-notch biography and excellent history. It will become required reading for anyone interested in Japan's Cold War-era security policies. -- Peter Mauch, Western Sydney University
Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Arrival of Director General Sakata Chapter 2: Sakata’s “Study Group Considering Defense Issues” Chapter 3: A Ploy during Diet Arguments Chapter 4: The Change in Public Opinion on Defense Chapter 5: The Sakata–Schlesinger Talks Chapter 6: Schlesinger’s Dismissal and Return to Japan Chapter 7: How SDF Personnel Were Seen Chapter 8: The Basic Defense Force Concept: A New Defense Philosophy Chapter 9: The Landmark Defense White Paper Chapter 10: Innovations in Defense Policy: The “National Defense Program Guidelines” and the National Defense Council Chapter 11: The MiG-25 Incident Chapter 12: The Lockheed Scandal and False Accusations Chapter 13: Watching the Intraparty Conflict Chapter 14: Sakata Michita after His Term as Director General
