William D. Hoover is professor emeritus of history at the University of Toledo.

The Japanese journalist Kiyoshi "Karl" Kawakami wrote numerous books and articles in both Japanese and English about the relationship between the United States and Japan throughout the four decades prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Hoover examines Kawakami’s role as a “publicist” to both the American and the Japanese sides on various issues, attempting to ameliorate relations between the two nations. The result is a useful guide to this entire era of Japanese-American relations as perceived “at the time” by a knowledgeable correspondent. Hoover also evaluates what historians have written about these same issues and finds Kawakami an accurate and insightful reporter able to speak to both sides without cultural biases. This volume provides a comprehensive, nuanced overview of the concerns emerging throughout these four decades in terms of both Japanese and American diplomacy and public opinion. Reading “in the moment” articles as well as analytical historical perceptions of the same issues helps place these discussions in a useful and unique context, both contemporaneous and historical, that is seldom encountered and well worth exploration. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty.

• Chapter One: The Historical Setting of Japanese-American Relations Chapter Two: Kawakami’s Japanese Roots and the Lure of America, 1873-1901 Chapter Three: Kawakami Analyzes the Beginnings of Tension between Japan and America, 1901-13Chapter Four: World War I and Expanding Japan-US Controversies, 1914-1919 Chapter Five: Growing Problems in US-Japan Relations, 1919-1921Chapter Six: Kawakami Describes Uplifting Factors but Sees Shadows in Japanese-American Relations, 1921-1930 Chapter Seven: Kawakami Confronts Declining Japanese-American Relations, 1931-1937Chapter Eight: Kawakami’s Dream of Amiable Japanese-American Relations Crushed, 1937-1941Chapter Nine: The United States Exerts Economic Pressure in Attempt to Reign in Japan Epilogue

William D. Hoover is professor emeritus of history at the University of Toledo.

The Japanese journalist Kiyoshi "Karl" Kawakami wrote numerous books and articles in both Japanese and English about the relationship between the United States and Japan throughout the four decades prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Hoover examines Kawakami’s role as a “publicist” to both the American and the Japanese sides on various issues, attempting to ameliorate relations between the two nations. The result is a useful guide to this entire era of Japanese-American relations as perceived “at the time” by a knowledgeable correspondent. Hoover also evaluates what historians have written about these same issues and finds Kawakami an accurate and insightful reporter able to speak to both sides without cultural biases. This volume provides a comprehensive, nuanced overview of the concerns emerging throughout these four decades in terms of both Japanese and American diplomacy and public opinion. Reading “in the moment” articles as well as analytical historical perceptions of the same issues helps place these discussions in a useful and unique context, both contemporaneous and historical, that is seldom encountered and well worth exploration. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty.

• Chapter One: The Historical Setting of Japanese-American Relations Chapter Two: Kawakami’s Japanese Roots and the Lure of America, 1873-1901 Chapter Three: Kawakami Analyzes the Beginnings of Tension between Japan and America, 1901-13Chapter Four: World War I and Expanding Japan-US Controversies, 1914-1919 Chapter Five: Growing Problems in US-Japan Relations, 1919-1921Chapter Six: Kawakami Describes Uplifting Factors but Sees Shadows in Japanese-American Relations, 1921-1930 Chapter Seven: Kawakami Confronts Declining Japanese-American Relations, 1931-1937Chapter Eight: Kawakami’s Dream of Amiable Japanese-American Relations Crushed, 1937-1941Chapter Nine: The United States Exerts Economic Pressure in Attempt to Reign in Japan Epilogue

William D. Hoover is professor emeritus of history at the University of Toledo.

The Japanese journalist Kiyoshi "Karl" Kawakami wrote numerous books and articles in both Japanese and English about the relationship between the United States and Japan throughout the four decades prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Hoover examines Kawakami’s role as a “publicist” to both the American and the Japanese sides on various issues, attempting to ameliorate relations between the two nations. The result is a useful guide to this entire era of Japanese-American relations as perceived “at the time” by a knowledgeable correspondent. Hoover also evaluates what historians have written about these same issues and finds Kawakami an accurate and insightful reporter able to speak to both sides without cultural biases. This volume provides a comprehensive, nuanced overview of the concerns emerging throughout these four decades in terms of both Japanese and American diplomacy and public opinion. Reading “in the moment” articles as well as analytical historical perceptions of the same issues helps place these discussions in a useful and unique context, both contemporaneous and historical, that is seldom encountered and well worth exploration. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty.

• Chapter One: The Historical Setting of Japanese-American Relations Chapter Two: Kawakami’s Japanese Roots and the Lure of America, 1873-1901 Chapter Three: Kawakami Analyzes the Beginnings of Tension between Japan and America, 1901-13Chapter Four: World War I and Expanding Japan-US Controversies, 1914-1919 Chapter Five: Growing Problems in US-Japan Relations, 1919-1921Chapter Six: Kawakami Describes Uplifting Factors but Sees Shadows in Japanese-American Relations, 1921-1930 Chapter Seven: Kawakami Confronts Declining Japanese-American Relations, 1931-1937Chapter Eight: Kawakami’s Dream of Amiable Japanese-American Relations Crushed, 1937-1941Chapter Nine: The United States Exerts Economic Pressure in Attempt to Reign in Japan Epilogue