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.

©2023 Gary J. Bass (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Comprehensive, landmark and riveting. . . . Bass employs the complexities of the trial as a fulcrum to sketch a wide canvas. . . . Fascinating.”
—Robert D. Kaplan, The Washington Post

“A magisterial history. . . . A grand account. . . . Bass . . . has done a great service by spending a decade researching and writing what will surely be the definitive history . . . . Authoritative. . . . Few studies will be so balanced. . . . The book is a well-crafted, warts-and-all account from which almost no one emerges unscathed.”
—Bill Emmott, Financial Times

“Exhaustive and fascinating. . . . Placing the trial firmly in the context of colonialism, racial attitudes, the Cold War, and post-colonial Asian politics, Bass argues, quite rightly, that the trial ‘reveals some of the reasons why a liberal international order has not emerged in Asia.’ . . . Bass is right to keep returning to the question of race.”
—Ian Buruma, The New Yorker

Forgotten history

Very interesting discussion about how the trial differed from the Nuremberg trial and how the desire to block communism played a role in the trial outcome especially in regard to the emperor

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.

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.

A good History

An in depth history of the Tokyo trial that shows a balanced recounting of the events before and after, with a clear connection to current events (2023). Although it is a long book, ultimately it’s a worthy read for anyone interested in WW2 history or for those looking to understand current global relations in North Asia. A good book.

A lot of details

a lot of details. very balanced and fair, comprehensive, includes prelude and what happened with the judges afterwards.

Excellent!

Highly recommended. Well written and well performed. My only complaint is the sound quality. For some reason the sound often felt either too quiet and wispy or too loud and boomy in my earbuds. It’s usually not a problem so I’m guessing it’s an issue with the audio engineering. The story was so good I kept listening anyway and would repeat sections if needed.

The subject. At times I got a little bit redundant and boring, but for the most part, I enjoyed the book.

I enjoyed most of the book at times got a little bit redundant and I think some of the vocabulary they use was a little bit maybe over my head foot they could’ve dumped it down a little bit

A difficult read

I looked forward to finally reading this book and filling a gap in my knowledge of the history of post war Japan and the war crime trials that followed. I say a “difficult read" because of some of the awful atrocities described and trying to keep the many names, roles and timelines in place. It might require a second read.