All I want for Xmas is.................

[mcmike]

Well gang, the holiday season is about to descend upon us in a wave of commercialism and mall stampedes, and, if you are like me, this time of year turns your thoughts to your family. By that I mean what the heck are they going to get for ME? It better be good. None of those polka-dot bow ties again.

So, I find it beneficial to drop some not-to-subtle hints to forestall the inevitable after shave lotion from the drugstore. I dare not request a yosegaki; no telling what they may interpret that to be. Better I should hint at a subscription to a military history magazine or a book; something "Japaneesee"* as it were. Therefore, a couple of questions:

1. Is anyone aware of a book, translated to English, written by a Japanese survivor of our island invasions in the Pacific? According to www.ww2incolor.com/japan Tank Commander Major Yoshi-taka Horie survived Iwo Jima and wrote a book; are there any others?

2. I would be interested to hear what military oriented magazines you find to be the most interesting, so that I can encourage my kids to enjoy the gift of giving - to me.

Hey, I'm not being greedy and self-serving; I'm just, uh, I was...... anyway, any ideas ?

Gracias

* (c) 2009, Kaigunair

[john mack]

Book

Do you have this one?

[john mack]

Book

Front cover

[mcmike]

no, looks good; thanks John. I presume this is a book regarding strategy, and not personal combat which is really the direction I am leaning. For example, a first person narrative regarding prepartion for the coming assault, the morale of the troops, the actual invasion, the perspective of the Japanese soldier to the combat around him. I want to smell the smoke, hear the nambu, and see the blood and guts and stuff.

[john mack]

Book store

Hello mike , if you ever get to nyc , there is a very big used book store called strand book store , it is the best place to find great books . I am going down to the city , i will let you know what i find .

[zachb]

Hi Mike,

Here are some suggestions I can give:

Kogan - by Saburo Hayashi & Coox
Senso -Frank Gibney
Tales By Japanese Soldiers - Kazuo Tamayama & J. Nunneley
Oba The Last Samurai - Sakae Oba & Don Jones
No Surrender - Hiroo Onoda
Fading Victory - Diary of Admiral Ugaki

As for Magazine...Are you a member of Banzai? If not you should subscribe to the newsletter:

http://www.gunboards.com/sites/banzai/

IMG_1398_edited.jpg

[mcmike]

Excellent, Zach! Haven't seen these, nor am I subscribed to Banzai. But soon will be.

[zachb]

Oh, also I recently read "Singapore, The Japanese Version" by Masanobu Tsuji. Though very slanted it is also an interesting read.

Further, I read another narrative this year "From Shanghai to Shanghai (The War Diary of an Imperial Japanese Army Medical Officer)," by Aso Tetsuo. However, I was highly disappointed in this particular book.

Setting up an Amazon "Wish List" has been very rewarding.
Best Regards, Zach

[mcmike]

Yeah, and you can find some really good deals in used books, too. Also, thanks for telling me what NOT to read. Saves time.

[Budo45]

hard to find books

If you cant find.....




the books your....



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[juoneen]

My favorite is "just americans", and other books about the nisei...japanese americans ...about the american japanese who enlisted to fight the germans in europe, after pearl harbor...and their unit histories of valor.(442nd..go for broke) Some of the books on the subject are listed here at the bottom. many are unaware of their exemplery service to our country, as the highest decorated unit.The unit became the most highly decorated regiment in the history of the United States Armed Forces, including 21 Medal of Honor recipients, earning the nickname “The Purple Heart Battalion”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/442nd_I...(United_States)

[mcmike]

442

Thanks, Juoneen ~ I have read some about this div, but not enough and will definitely ask Santa-kid-spouse for it. In fact, you probably noticed on WWII in HD that a brief story was told about a Heroic 442 medic captured by the krau......... I mean Germans.

Thanks!

[gunto]

If you cant find.....




the books your....



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your.....




at .....

LOL.

[mcmike]

If you cant find.....
the books your....
looking for......
your.....
at .....

Yeah, I think there's a branch here in Carrollton. I go there all of the time to not find books I want.

[Justsumgui]

If you go to that book store there is a great chinese joint around the corner called Sum fu hing guis