Judgment at Tokyo

World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia

By: Gary J. Bass

Narrated by: Simon Vance

WINNER OF THE ARTHUR ROSS BOOK AWARD FROM THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS • ACCLAIMED AS ONE OF THE YEAR’S 10 BEST BOOKS BY THE WASHINGTON POST • 12 ESSENTIAL NONFICTION BOOKS BY THE NEW YORKER • 100 NOTABLE BOOKS BY THE NEW YORK TIMES • BEST BOOKS BY THE ECONOMIST, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, AND AIR MAIL • 10 ESSENTIAL BOOKS BY THE TELEGRAPH • MARK LYNTON HISTORY PRIZE FINALIST • CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE FINALIST • BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE LONGLIST • THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS’ CHOICE • THE OBSERVER AND THE SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE WEEK • DAUNT BOOKS OF THE YEAR • A landmark, magisterial history of the trial of Japan’s leaders as war criminals—the largely overlooked Asian counterpart to Nuremberg

“Nothing less than a masterpiece. With epic research and mesmerizing narrative power, Judgment at Tokyo has the makings of an instant classic.”
—Evan Osnos, National Book Award–winning author of Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China

In the weeks after Japan finally surrendered to the Allies to end World War II, the world turned to the question of how to move on from years of carnage and destruction. For Harry Truman, Douglas MacArthur, Chiang Kai-shek, and their fellow victors, the question of justice seemed clear: Japan’s militaristic leaders needed to be tried and punished for the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor; shocking atrocities against civilians in China, the Philippines, and elsewhere; and rampant abuses of prisoners of war in notorious incidents such as the Bataan death march. For the Allied powers, the trial was an opportunity to render judgment on their vanquished foes, but also to create a legal framework to prosecute war crimes and prohibit the use of aggressive war, building a more peaceful world under international law and American hegemony. For the Japanese leaders on trial, it was their chance to argue that their war had been waged to liberate Asia from Western imperialism and that the court was victors’ justice.

For more than two years, lawyers for both sides presented their cases before a panel of clashing judges from China, India, the Philippines, and Australia, as well as the United States and European powers. The testimony ran from horrific accounts of brutality and the secret plans to attack Pearl Harbor to the Japanese military’s threats to subvert the government if it sued for peace. Yet rather than clarity and unanimity, the trial brought complexity, dissents, and divisions that provoke international discord between China, Japan, and Korea to this day. Those courtroom tensions and contradictions could also be seen playing out across Asia as the trial unfolded in the crucial early years of the Cold War, from China’s descent into civil war to Japan’s successful postwar democratic elections to India’s independence and partition.

From the author of the acclaimed The Blood Telegram, which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist, this magnificent history is the product of a decade of research and writing. Judgment at Tokyo is a riveting story of wartime action, dramatic courtroom battles, and the epic formative years that set the stage for the Asian postwar era.

The complexity of the is both unexpected and at times overwhelming.

The details and the complex relationships between the eleven justices stands out. As well, the tricky balance between a legal system tied to a concept of universal justice and the more human desire for revenge. Too much time was spent on the mishandling of the case my Justice Webb, and the ridiculous dissent by the Indian justice, Pau.

Reflecting and compelling 80 years out

Thought provoking. Unexpected insights into the international judicial panel - the good and the bad and the personal positions they each brought to the tribunal. Discussion of witness testimony was at times brutally raw, yet a fraction of reality no doubt. Greatly appreciated the multi layered examination of this story not on the heels of WWII, but in recognition of the 80 years of history we have since experienced. The story was “real” and not a whitewash of propaganda. Well worth the read. An excellent conversation and discussion piece for persons open to considering - or at least listening to other people’s perspectives.

Meticulous

An important book for understanding Asia after WW2. Dense and authoritative with information. A little long winded and almost repetitive at times. I’m not sure how, but I feel it could have been 100-150 pages shorter and I would have taken away the same understanding.

Revealing

This well-researched and well-written book does not merely recite the history of an oft-forgotten trial, but offers penetrating insight and analysis. The narrator is magnificent. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to understand how the aftermath of WW2 shapes our current world. 

Extraordinary and timely

This is the most erudite and compassionate book on the Tokyo trials and the unfolding of Asian history, read by my favorite narrator. It helps us to understand those complex times in great detail. Since it is about Japan, a Japanese translation is of utmost importance. I hope we can also listen to the Japanese audiobook of the translation on Audible, soon. Moreover, I hope Audible records audiobooks of the unabridged judgments of Justice Pal, Justice Roling, and the Chinese judge, mentioned in this book. And, my preferred narrator would certainly be Simon Vance (natural or virtual voice).

Ironically, the only word mispronounced is the English word 'diet', meaning the parliament. It is pronounced like a Japanese word written in roman script.

I hope Audible records an audiobook version of another thought-provoking book, The Blood Telegram, by Professor Gary J. Bass, soon.