"This comprehensive volume traces the evolution of Japanese military history--from 300 AD to present day foreign relations--and reveals how the country's cultural views of power, violence, and politics helped shape Japan's long and turbulent history of war"-- Provided by publisher.

From the sun goddess to the samurai -- The wild east -- Military dictatorship -- Warring states -- Taming the samurai -- Photo essay -- From the Yalu to the Yasukuni shrine -- The failure of liberalism and the triumph of militarism -- The greater East Asian war -- After the samurai.