'Grassroots Fascism' throws the war experience of Japanese into sharp relief

Yoshimi Yoshiaki's "Grassroots Fascism" takes an analytical look into the brutality and extensive indoctrination that Fascist policy in Imperial Japan caused.

Experiences of individuals from a range of backgrounds are told in a compelling series of memoirs. Within these, one can discover the true conviction with which ordinary citizens carried out their duty to the Empire. Only imminent defeat dampened the spirits of those who had been indoctrinated by the imperial-propaganda machine.

True to its title, "Grassroots Fascism" looks at the situation on the ground from the perspective of the common people themselves. A collection of memoirs by people who supported the war as soldiers on the front lines, workers in the homeland or people who actively participated in organizations that supported the war effort is included. These stories open up a whole new perspective in which one can delve into the mixed emotions of despair, anger and devotion that common people felt with the imperial leadership.

The book was translated from Japanese to English. Within is a bone-chilling narrative into what the common person in Japan was raised to believe and the extreme actions many would take in the name of the empire. It offers a comprehensive narrative of the situation from the beginning of the war in Asia to the early days following surrender to the Allied forces.