Spanning Japan's Modern Century

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In 1942, Hugh Borton, a 39-year-old assistant professor of Japanese history, was called to serve in the State Department, quickly becoming a key architect of U.S. policy toward post-war Japan. This work, drawn from Borton's personal papers, offers an intimate portrait of a man instrumental in defining unconditional surrender for Japan, retaining the Emperor, and shaping Japan's post-war constitution. It illuminates the complexities of U.S. post-war Japanese policy and the often-contentious relationships among the various agencies involved in its formulation and execution. Borton, author of Japan's Modern Century and director of Columbia University's East Asian Institute, dedicated his life to fostering academic, cultural, and humanitarian ties between Japan and the United States. The book includes a detailed table of contents, covering Borton's early life, experiences in Japan with the American Friends Service Committee, his academic journey, wartime service, and his significant contributions to post-war planning and policy-making. It also reflects on his later years, including his return to academia and challenges faced as a college president, providing a comprehensive view of his impact on Japanese studies and U.S.-Japan relations.