Pulitzer Prize General Non Fiction Winner
Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan
by Herbert P. Bix
Summary
A groundbreaking biography that challenges the myth of Emperor Hirohito as a powerless figurehead, proving his active role in Japan's wartime decisions.
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Historical Context & Significance
Bix used newly available Japanese diaries and documents to dismantle the "innocent emperor" narrative created during the post-WWII American occupation.