Military Dimension

The five volumes in the series entitled The History of Anglo-Japanese Relations, 1600-2000 explore the history of the relationship between Britain and Japan from the first contacts of the early 1600s through to the end of the twentieth century. This volume presents 19 original essays by Japanese, British and other international historians and covers the evolving military relationship from the 19th century through to the end of the 20th century. It chronicles, from both sides, the evolving relationship from the early days of the 19th century as Japan became first a pupil and then a diplomatic and wartime ally under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902-21). It then concentrates on the strategic shifts in military thinking as the relationship shifts again from alliance partners to potential enemies and then antagonists. the latter part of the collection then focuses on some highly controversial issues such as the Japanese treatment of and attitude to POWs, the British treatment fo Japanese surrendered personnel and Japanese war criminals, and Anglo-Japanese military relationships in Japan under the Occupation. The collection ends with a postcript on the return to a more collaborative post-war military relationship.