Matrix Games Forums

 Forums  Register  Login  Photo Gallery  Member List  Search  Calendars  FAQ 

My Profile  Inbox  Address Book  My Subscription  My Forums  Log Out

Books for Japanese Players

 
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> Books for Japanese Players Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Books for Japanese Players - 7/2/2011 3:38:21 PM   
herwin

 

Posts: 6059
Joined: 5/28/2004
From: Sunderland, UK
Status: offline 		Please recommend a summer reading list for Japanese players.

_____________________________

Harry Erwin
"For a number to make sense in the game, someone has to calibrate it and program code. There are too many significant numbers that behave non-linearly to expect that. It's just a game. Enjoy it." herwin@btinternet.com
Post #: 1
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/2/2011 4:00:25 PM   
warspite1


Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		Have to say Shattered Sword, but realistically can't imagine anyone interested in the Pacific War has not read this...

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805



(in reply to herwin)
Post #: 2
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/2/2011 4:42:50 PM   
YankeeAirRat


Posts: 633
Joined: 6/22/2005
Status: offline 		Samurai! by Saburo Saki


_____________________________

Take my word for it. You never want to be involved in an “International Incident”.

(in reply to warspite1)
Post #: 3
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/2/2011 5:39:47 PM   
Shellshock


Posts: 533
Joined: 12/31/2010
From: U.S.
Status: offline 		If you haven't already, The Rising Sun by John Toland.

Japan's War by Edwin P. Hoyt.

(in reply to YankeeAirRat)
Post #: 4
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/3/2011 12:01:39 AM   
JeffroK


Posts: 6391
Joined: 1/26/2005
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: YankeeAirRat

Samurai! by Saburo Saki


Samurai was written by Saburo Sakai with Martin Caiden and Fred Saito
Since its publication Sakai removed himself from supporting many of the passages in the book. Apparently Caiden was a better sci-fi writer than biographer.
http://www.warbirdforum.com/samurai.htm
But it still gives a feel as to the japanese pilots side of the war.

< Message edited by JeffK -- 7/3/2011 12:02:20 AM >

_____________________________

Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum

(in reply to YankeeAirRat)
Post #: 5
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/3/2011 12:06:01 AM   
JeffroK


Posts: 6391
Joined: 1/26/2005
Status: offline 		I once posted (maybe in WITP) about a book, I think its AFTER PEARL HARBOUR, The story of the IJN attack pilots after Pearl Harbour.

I'll see if I can find the ISBN etc.

And because I am what I am.
KNIGHT OF THE BUSHIDO by Lord Russel of Liverpool.
If you are going to be a fanboy, dont keep your head in the sands,



_____________________________

Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum

(in reply to JeffroK)
Post #: 6
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/3/2011 12:15:13 AM   
DivePac88


Posts: 3119
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: Somewhere in the South Pacific.
Status: offline 		About the best Pacific War book I've acquired and read lately is; Ronald H. Spector's Eagle against the Sun. It has a lot of factual material I not come across before, and is light enough to read in the Toilet.

_____________________________


When you see the Southern Cross, For the first time
You understand now, Why you came this way

(in reply to JeffroK)
Post #: 7
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/3/2011 2:53:06 AM   
Heeward


Posts: 343
Joined: 1/27/2003
From: Lacey Washington
Status: offline 		Japanese Destroyer Captain: Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Midway - The Great Naval Battles As Seen Through Japanese Eyes Tameichi Hara, Fred Saito, and Roger Pineau.
Hardback edition of the classic Japanese Destroyer Captain.from the 1960's


_____________________________

The Wake

(in reply to DivePac88)
Post #: 8
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/3/2011 9:38:51 AM   
Local Yokel


Posts: 1494
Joined: 2/4/2007
From: Somerset, U.K.
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JeffK

I once posted (maybe in WITP) about a book, I think its AFTER PEARL HARBOUR, The story of the IJN attack pilots after Pearl Harbour.

I'll see if I can find the ISBN etc.

And because I am what I am.
KNIGHT OF THE BUSHIDO by Lord Russel of Liverpool.
If you are going to be a fanboy, dont keep your head in the sands,




Jeff, I think the book you may be thinking of is Ron Werneth's "Beyond Pearl Harbor The Untold Stories of Japan's Naval Airmen", published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd, PA, ISBN: 978-0-7643-2932-6.

In addition, obvious recommendations are Evans and Peattie's "Kaigun" and Paul Dull's "A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1941-1945".

If you can find a second-hand copy, I also recommend Mark Parillo's "The Japanese Merchant Marine in World War II". Previously I have written about this in somewhat critical terms, but it's a book to which I keep coming back as an essential reference point.

_____________________________




(in reply to JeffroK)
Post #: 9
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/3/2011 10:34:18 AM   
ilovestrategy


Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline 		The Decline of the Japanese Empire by Toland and Shattered Sword. I must have read Toland's book at least ten times and I'm now finishing Shattered Sword for the third. I LOVE that book! I wish there was a thread here just for that book. 

_____________________________

After 16 years, Civ II still has me in it's clutches LOL!!!
Now CIV IV has me in it's evil clutches!

(in reply to Local Yokel)
Post #: 10
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/4/2011 6:42:34 AM   
Pascal_slith


Posts: 1651
Joined: 8/20/2003
From: back in Commiefornia
Status: offline 		"A World at Arms" by Gerhard Weinberg. Not battle history but grand strategic. Sections on the Japanese are quite good and have excellent references.

Just picked up "Japanese Intelligence in World War II" by Ken Kotani. Very interesting read.

_____________________________

So much WitP and so little time to play.... :-(


(in reply to ilovestrategy)
Post #: 11
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/4/2011 9:42:43 PM   
Mac Linehan

 

Posts: 1484
Joined: 12/19/2004
From: Denver Colorado
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: DivePac88

About the best Pacific War book I've acquired and read lately is; Ronald H. Spector's Eagle against the Sun. It has a lot of factual material I not come across before, and is light enough to read in the Toilet.


DivePac88 -

Eagle against the Sun is indeed first class. I ordered it used, in May, and am almost done with it here at Camp. Took a pause to read O'Brien's "The Yellow Admiral", but am now back on Spector. Very well written, fast moving and informative.

Mac

_____________________________

LAV-25 2147

(in reply to DivePac88)
Post #: 12
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/8/2011 11:50:38 AM   
FatR

 

Posts: 2522
Joined: 10/23/2009
From: St.Petersburg, Russia
Status: offline 		Kaigun by Evans and Peattie
Sunburst by Peattie
Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War by Lacroix and Wells

(in reply to Mac Linehan)
Post #: 13
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/9/2011 2:59:29 AM   
seydlitz_slith


Posts: 2036
Joined: 6/16/2002
From: Danville, IL
Status: offline 		Battle of Surigao Strait by Anthony P. Tully (2009).
He is the co-author of Shattered Sword along with John Paschal.
Like SS, it tells the story of the battle from the Japanese side using Japanese primary sources, TROMS, and also allied records.
It changed my whole perception of this battle about as much as SS changed my perception of the battle of Midway.


I am also reading a historical novel titled Days of Infamy by Newt Gingrich (yes, the politician) and William R. Forstchen.
The book picks up after their other book Pearl Harbor, which I have not read.
In PH, Yamamoto replaces Nagumo in command of the strike, and hangs around to conduct a third wave to destroy the drydocks, oil farms, and repair facilities.

Days of Infamy picks up with nightfall on the 7th with Yamamoto setting a trap for the allied carriers that he thinks are in the area. These include using Hiei and Kirishima to bombard Oahu hoping to attract a reaction from the American carriers. I am not through yet but I can confirm that there has already been multiple naval actions including a carrier battle with more fighting to come. Oh, and surprisingly, not a hint of partisan politics.
I picked this one up in hard back at Barnes & Noble for $5.98 in their discount/clearance/special deals section. From reading it, I would not be a bit surprised if the authors weren't Witp:AE players as the novel contains many elements similar to potential moves in the game.


(in reply to FatR)
Post #: 14
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/10/2011 10:03:31 AM   
ram_971

 

Posts: 10
Joined: 12/8/2007
Status: offline 		If you are interested in books from the perspective of the Japanese people try Japan at War: An Oral History by Haruko Taya Cook. This book is a must reading.

(in reply to seydlitz_slith)
Post #: 15
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 7/10/2011 9:50:27 PM   
Wirraway_Ace


Posts: 1400
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Austin / Brisbane
Status: offline 		Requim for Battleship Yamato, Yoshida Mitsuru. Very fast read. Chilling. Classic.

(in reply to ram_971)
Post #: 16
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/22/2015 11:13:08 PM   
ETF


Posts: 1748
Joined: 9/16/2004
From: Vancouver, Canada
Status: offline 		Sorry guys the search system on Matrix is not the best. I have downloaded most of the above. Any for the Allies you would suggest?

Thanks guys.....

_____________________________

My Top Matrix Games 1) CMO MP?? 2) WITP/AE 3) SOW 4) Combat Mission 5) Armor Brigade

Twitter
https://twitter.com/TacticWargamer

(in reply to Wirraway_Ace)
Post #: 17
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 12:32:05 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: seydlitz

Battle of Surigao Strait by Anthony P. Tully (2009).
He is the co-author of Shattered Sword along with John Paschal.
Like SS, it tells the story of the battle from the Japanese side using Japanese primary sources, TROMS, and also allied records.
It changed my whole perception of this battle about as much as SS changed my perception of the battle of Midway.


I am also reading a historical novel titled Days of Infamy by Newt Gingrich (yes, the politician) and William R. Forstchen.
The book picks up after their other book Pearl Harbor, which I have not read.
In PH, Yamamoto replaces Nagumo in command of the strike, and hangs around to conduct a third wave to destroy the drydocks, oil farms, and repair facilities.

Days of Infamy picks up with nightfall on the 7th with Yamamoto setting a trap for the allied carriers that he thinks are in the area. These include using Hiei and Kirishima to bombard Oahu hoping to attract a reaction from the American carriers. I am not through yet but I can confirm that there has already been multiple naval actions including a carrier battle with more fighting to come. Oh, and surprisingly, not a hint of partisan politics.
I picked this one up in hard back at Barnes & Noble for $5.98 in their discount/clearance/special deals section. From reading it, I would not be a bit surprised if the authors weren't Witp:AE players as the novel contains many elements similar to potential moves in the game.




All the books by Newt and Forstchen are good. The Civil War set is excellent as well.

Read Richard Frank's Guadalcanal. It is both sides but there is GOOD info from the Japanese side.

Just ordered the Surigao Strait book by Tully. Didn't know about it. Thanks for that recommendation!



< Message edited by John 3rd -- 6/23/2015 1:34:15 AM >

_____________________________



Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

(in reply to seydlitz_slith)
Post #: 18
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 12:38:58 AM   
pws1225

 

Posts: 1166
Joined: 8/9/2010
From: Tate's Hell, Florida
Status: offline 		Homage to DivePac who posted in this thread. The Emu lives!

(in reply to ETF)
Post #: 19
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 1:22:40 AM   
tiemanjw

 

Posts: 580
Joined: 12/6/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: ETF

Sorry guys the search system on Matrix is not the best. I have downloaded most of the above. Any for the Allies you would suggest?

Thanks guys.....


Neptunes Inferno - excellent all the way around, but the build up to and through the first naval battle of Guadalcanal gets 6/5 stars.

Fleet tactics by capt Hughes. Not WWII specific, but a good primer to naval combat.

The Art of maneuver - cpt leonard. Not WWII or even naval, but a good primer on setting objectives and defeating the enemy. Introduces (go me at least) the concept of "battlefield physics" and drills on the importance of time. He also wrote "fighting by minutes", which I read forever ago. I remember it being good, but not quite as good.

(in reply to ETF)
Post #: 20
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 3:03:22 AM   
witpqs


Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: pws1225

Homage to DivePac who posted in this thread. The Emu lives!

+1

And for Harry Erwin, who started the thread.

_____________________________

Intel Monkey: https://sites.google.com/view/staffmonkeys/home

(in reply to pws1225)
Post #: 21
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 5:38:05 AM   
AndyG1

 

Posts: 132
Joined: 8/29/2007
Status: offline 		From both sides, very interesting stuff:-

Bloody Shambles - The First Comprehensive Account of Air Operations over South East Asia Dec 1941 - April 1942. Vol 1 The Drift to War to the Fall of Singapore.

There's more than one volume, I've only got the first.

By Christopher Shores & Brian Cull with Yasuho Izawa.

Publisher - Grub Street.

ISBN 0-948817-50.

My copy is from 1992 - it's says on the back cover - distributed in USA by Seven Hills, 49 Central Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 and in Canada by Fortress Publications, PO Box 9241, Stoney Creek, Ontario, L8G 3Xp.

Grub Street has a website:-

http://grubstreet.co.uk/product-category/aviation/ww2/

I used it to plan my invasion as the Japanese of Guadalcanal, trying to be as historically accurate as possible, in WITPAE:)

< Message edited by AndyG1 -- 6/23/2015 6:40:14 AM >

(in reply to witpqs)
Post #: 22
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 6:39:41 AM   
DanSez


Posts: 1023
Joined: 2/5/2012
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: ram_971

If you are interested in books from the perspective of the Japanese people try Japan at War: An Oral History by Haruko Taya Cook. This book is a must reading.

+1
I am reading it now. There is a short interview with Saburo Sakai (mentioned above) and he vents about the caste system of pilots (Officer Class vs the NCO Pilots).
Lots of other good stories.

Also very highly recommended for those interested in the Japanese side are:

Japan 1941 by Eri Hotta
Really gives a good picture of the 'public face' and 'private face' of some of the main players who allowed pride and social pressure let their government stumble toward a war that many knew they could not win.

Sea of Thunder by Evan Thomas
Mainly following 4 Commanders upto and thru the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Harp of Burma by Michio Takeyama
Very personal writing of a soldier on the ground fighting in Burma

Blossoms in the Wing: Human Legacies of the Kamikaze by M.G. Sheftall
Stories from Kamikaze unit survivors including the famous girls who were photographed waving Cherry Blossom branches as planes took off to attack Okinawa.

(and I also echo the recommendation for Shattered Sword)

< Message edited by DanSez -- 6/23/2015 7:41:08 AM >

(in reply to ram_971)
Post #: 23
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 10:45:38 AM   
Trugrit


Posts: 947
Joined: 7/14/2014
From: North Carolina
Status: offline
Don’t miss Fire InThe Sky:
http://www.amazon.com/Fire-In-The-Sky-Pacific/dp/0813338697

800 pages of joy for anyone interested in the Pacific War.

The strategic analysis is what stands out as well as the comments from the veterans.





Attachment (1)

(in reply to DanSez)
Post #: 24
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 1:17:46 PM   
Numdydar

 

Posts: 3211
Joined: 2/13/2004
Status: offline 		I'm surprised no one has mentioned 'The Last Zero Fighter' yet.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Zero-Fighter-Firsthand/dp/1468178806

(in reply to Trugrit)
Post #: 25
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 3:53:25 PM   
ETF


Posts: 1748
Joined: 9/16/2004
From: Vancouver, Canada
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: AndyG1


My copy is from 1992 - it's says on the back cover - distributed in USA by Seven Hills, 49 Central Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 and in Canada by Fortress Publications, PO Box 9241, Stoney Creek, Ontario, L8G 3Xp.

Grub Street has a website:-

http://grubstreet.co.uk/product-category/aviation/ww2/

I used it to plan my invasion as the Japanese of Guadalcanal, trying to be as historically accurate as possible, in WITPAE:)



Lol Stoney Creek Canada is where I live. Will see if fortress publications are still around :)

_____________________________

My Top Matrix Games 1) CMO MP?? 2) WITP/AE 3) SOW 4) Combat Mission 5) Armor Brigade

Twitter
https://twitter.com/TacticWargamer

(in reply to AndyG1)
Post #: 26
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 4:03:07 PM   
Jellicoe


Posts: 157
Joined: 9/26/2012
From: Kent, UK
Status: offline 		Need to mention the diaries of admiral matome Ugaki, edited by Gordon Prange. Ugaki was yamammoto's chief of staff.

Also would recommend 'Japanese cruisers of the Pacific war' and 'build the Musashi!' But cannot remember their authors as at work currently.

(in reply to ETF)
Post #: 27
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 8:38:54 PM   
Delaware

 

Posts: 212
Joined: 8/6/2013
Status: offline 		Any opinions on Ian Toll's Pacific Crucible? I have that and Eagle Against the Sun. Should I put down Toll and read Spector first?

(in reply to Jellicoe)
Post #: 28
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/23/2015 10:40:23 PM   
Justus2


Posts: 729
Joined: 11/12/2011
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Delaware

Any opinions on Ian Toll's Pacific Crucible? I have that and Eagle Against the Sun. Should I put down Toll and read Spector first?


I really enjoyed Pacific Crucible. It is focused on the planning for the war and the early months, but gives a good description of how the commanders on both sides appraised the situation. I especially liked the section describing Nimitz' initial assessment, his train ride across the country on his way to Pearl, reading reports but not yet in charge. I've thought about trying a game where I make minimal changes for the first two weeks, to get a feel for how Nimitz walked in.

_____________________________

Playing/Learning Shadow Empire


(in reply to Delaware)
Post #: 29
RE: Books for Japanese Players - 6/24/2015 11:56:18 PM   
GamesaurusRex


Posts: 505
Joined: 10/13/2013
Status: offline 		'Afternoon of the Rising Sun - The Battle of Leyte Gulf ' by Kenneth Friedman is a good summer read.
Enough details to be interesting, but not so voluminous that it overburdens your summer.

< Message edited by GamesaurusRex -- 6/25/2015 12:56:57 AM >

(in reply to Justus2)
Post #: 30
Page:   [1] 2   next >   >>
All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> Books for Japanese Players Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts


Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

3.313