A combination of political history, military biography, and business management reveals how General Douglas MacArthur defied expectations to rebuild Japan successfully after World War II.

Taking control. A President rolls the dice -- Flying nine hundred miles from Okinawa to Atsugi -- "The most courageous act of the entire war" -- Sword sheathed, but gleaming in its scabbard -- "Down but not out" -- Harry Truman throws a fit -- The photograph that saved a thousand ships -- What to do with the Emperor and the militarists? -- Vigorous execution. Organizing for success -- Occupier as humanitarian -- The Emperor is not a Kami -- Drawing up a utopia -- MacArthur breaks the impasse -- His most radical reform -- "He has a letter from God" -- Russian trouble -- "Where's Ishii?" -- "Cherry blossoms at night" -- The Nuremberg of the East -- Washington takes over. George Kennan pays a visit -- A shift in emphasis -- "The greatest piece of diplomacy, ever" -- Occupier as protector -- Epilogue. Had he died at Inchon -- A man deeply flawed : how did he do it? -- Aftermath.