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Judgment at Tokyo

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Gary J. Bass

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This landmark history examines the trial of Japan’s leaders as war criminals, an often-overlooked counterpart to Nuremberg. Following Japan's surrender, the Allies faced the challenge of addressing the devastation of war. For leaders like Harry Truman and Douglas MacArthur, it was clear that Japan’s leaders must be held accountable for their actions, including the attack on Pearl Harbor and atrocities committed across Asia. The trial aimed not only to deliver justice but also to establish a legal framework for prosecuting war crimes and to promote a liberal international order similar to that in Europe. For the Japanese defendants, the trial was an opportunity to assert that their actions were intended to liberate Asia from Western imperialism. Over two years, lawyers from both sides presented cases before an international panel of judges. The testimonies revealed horrific brutality and the military's threats against peace negotiations. However, the trial produced division rather than consensus, reflecting broader tensions in Asia, including China’s civil war, India’s partition, and Japan’s democratic developments. This narrative captures the dramatic courtroom battles and the formative years that shaped the Asian postwar era, revealing the complexities and contradictions of justice in a time of upheaval.