Japanese Militarism: Past and Present (1975) By Harold Hakwon Sunoo
 
Japanese militarism is once again threatening the United States, according to Dr. Sunoo. The author believes that shortly Japan will be one of the three major military powers.

Basing his study on information available in English and untranslated primary sources from Japan, Professor Sunoo documents the history of Japanese militarism and the role of the United States in its revival following World War II. He warns that it is Japanese militarism and economic imperialism, not Chinese communism, which poses the greatest threat to peace in Asia and, by extension, the rest of the world.

Sunoo traces the development of Japan’s zaibatsu business groups — the financial-military-industrial-monopolistic cliques which exercise control over the Japanese economy and which have traditionally encouraged Japanese militarism.
Zaibatsu groups are now in direct competition with American businesses throughout the world. The author feels that the Japanese will fight to protect the extensive investments they have made in South Korea and Southeast Asia. He cites recent calls by several Japanese leaders for a stronger military and the twenty-two percent rise in Japanese military expenditures from 1972 to 1973 as indicators of Japan’s true intentions. The Fourth Self-Defense Plan, initiated in 1972, has an estimated budget three times higher than in preceding years.

Why is Professor Sunoo concerned about the revival of Japanese militarism? How much power is held by the military-industrial complex in Japan? What roles do the American government and American corporations play in the revival of militarism in Japan? What did it mean when the highest official in Japan declared in 1973 that it was not unconstitutional to send the Japanese army to South Korea to defend Japanese interests? Why is China so alarmed about Japanese military expansion? Why aren’t the United States and its allies equally alarmed?

These are the questions to which the author addresses himself. His answers are based on well-documented evidence and should be required reading for all concerned citizens, especially decision-makers in Washington.
 
Contains post-it notes from a previous owner
 
Hard Cover With Dust Jacket
164 pages
In Fair to Good Condition