Warriors of Imperial Japan in World War II 1941-45 (2601-05)
Claudio Atonucci
In terms of books dedicated to Axis forces during WWII, Germany
consumes more than the lion’s share of literature. Alas, there is
little devoted to the fascinating subject of the Japanese soldier
during this global conflict. With the release of “Warriors of
Imperial Japan in World War II”, Concord Publications is doing its
bit to help redress this imbalance. As the title implies, this new
volume by Claudio Antonucci is dedicated to the topic of the
Japanese fighting man. The Japanese soldier made spectacular
conquests early in the war before he was finally overwhelmed by the
greater resources and might of the Allied war machine.
The book is made up of a fine blend of color plates, highly
informative text and contemporary WWII photographs. Perhaps the
thing that will strike readers first and foremost is the
photographs, especially because many of these pictures are
reproduced in original color. The use of color photos marks an
important departure for this series of books, and it is one that
readers will greatly appreciate. The collection of photos shows
Japanese soldiers from all periods of the war, from the rapid
conquests of 1941 through to the bitter last-ditch defensive
battles of 1945. Pictures are sourced from both Allied and Japanese
collections to produce a comprehensive study. They are explained by
usefully detailed captions that offer comment on uniforms, personal
equipment and weapons. Since there are few books that delve into
this topic, readers are certain to greatly advance their knowledge
base on the topic. These captions also include in English notation
the original Japanese names of equipment items, which will aid in
identification.
This book contains ten color plates created by the author. These
plates don’t contain just one picture, but multiple illustrations
of various aspects of Japanese uniform and equipment. They are
supported by extensive accompanying text that is a veritable
treasure chest of information. This book is a welcome addition to
Concord’s series on fighting men. Covering in great depth the
subject of the Japanese soldier (“hei” in Japanese), this book will
remain a vital reference source for years to come.
Format 21 x 28 cm, Paperback, 52 Seiten, 34 Farb- und 68
s/w-Fotos, 10 Farbtafeln, englischer Text, Best.-Nr. Con6532