Kaigun : Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941

Rating:
Summary: Big and Impressive looking, but hollow inside
Review: The book is big and looks quite impressive, but the contents are rather indifferent. The problem is that it seeks to address too many different areas--technological development, history, strategy, organization, ships, leading naval personalities--for such a long period that nothing is covered in a thorough or comprehensive fashion that a more specialized book might. Rather, everything gets rather bland, hackneyed treatment rather than an in-depth analysis or exposition. Still, if you want a reasonably detailed book that provides a good overview of the Imperial Japanese Navy from its modern inception after the Meiji Restoration to the begining of the Second World War, you might find it rather valuable.

Rating:
Summary: A seminal work - don't miss it if you're interested.
Review: This book fills the huge void on the Japanese navy prior to WWII. Virtually all other available books start at Pearl Harbor with no analysis of how (or why) the Japanese navy had a modern, fully trained, and equipped navy capable of challenging the US. I bought the book on spec purely because of a lack of other publications on the subject but was very pleasantly surprised to find how well written it was. Apart from the content it was a pleasure to read it, an observation I can't make about many books on specialized military topics. A strong recommendation for readers who have had enough of the actual war stories (such as Paul Dull's excellent book) and want some background.

Rating:
Summary: A seminal work - don't miss it if you're interested.
Review: This is a magnum opus to match S.E. Morrison's 14 volume History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, or Clay Blair's "Silent Victory" and 2-volume Hitler's U-Boat war, or Lundstrom's two "First Team" volumes. Such are volumes that a serious student of the Pacific War does not fail to read. Add this one. "Kaigun" is the perfect complement to Miller's "War Plan Orange." Why? First, Kaigun fills in the internal history of the Imperial Japanese Navy from its inception to the fatal decisions which led to its destruction. Second, it examines the strategic, doctrinal and tactical thought which drove, or was driven by the technological progress of the IJN. And finally, it explodes a number of cherished myths surrounding the IJN, most particularly its very active part in pushing Japan to war. What this volume can't answer and can't be held accountable for is why intelligent men leading the IJN made the incredibly bad decision to go to war, although it clearly illustrates the strategic calculus used to rationalize those decisions. "Kaigun" also shows (with the clarity of hindsight, or course) why Japan never had a chance of winning its war with the United States short of divine intervention. This is a seminal work and absolutely not to be missed. The technical detail may bore and quail the casual reader, but the serious student and the reader wanting the truth of the matter won't be put off. This is the best English language work available on the subject and should be read in conjunction with "War Plan Orange."