Embracing Defeat

An even-handed history of the Occupation of Japan, though scant on analysis. Wish it engaged with long-term political and cultural effects of the occupation, both on Japan and globally.

Very detailed, scholarly, and well researched, Embraching Defeat is the book to go to if you want to understand the postwar period of Japanese history.
The first three parts – Victor and Vanquished, Transiting Despair, and Revolutions – engaged my attention the most. They deal with the post-war experience of the Japanese people on both a small and large scale. (I suppose that is where my main interest is.)
My interest flagged a bit in the parts about the machinations around the creation of the Japanese constitution and the formation of the political system that exists to this day. These are very important subjects. However, I had difficulty pulling it all together and found myself wishing for a synopsis. YMMV.
The final parts – Reconstructions and Epilogue – take a look at the post-war experience's impact on the subsequent development of Japan. Entire books could be (and have been) written about this. Dower's outlook is informative and interesting.
All in all, a very good history.
Solid four stars.