Introduction 1. Women and Children First 2. "Like a Boy of Twelve" 3. Sunday at Hirohito's 4. A Transpacific Treason Trial 5. A Kamikaze Goes to College 6. Channeling Atomic Guilt 7. Hollywood's Japan Epilogue: Rising Sun Redux Notes Acknowledgments Index
America's Geisha Ally is a rarity: a sophisticated historical study that combines theory, archival research, and literary grace. Insightful and highly original, the book shows how popular culture reshaped the samurai and kamikaze villain into the innocent and seductive geisha and "oriental" child of the western imagination. How Americans came to terms with their victory over Japan is a marvelous counterpart to the literature on how postwar Japan came to terms with defeat. -- Michael Schaller, University of Arizona A wonderfully compelling history that demonstrates the historical, political, and moral complexities of Cold War liberalism. The book builds a much-needed bridge between U.S. history, Japanese history, and Asian American history. -- Mari Yoshihara, University of Hawaii This superb book shows how ideas about gender and maturity allowed Americans to reconstruct the Japanese as well-intentioned and cooperative, if not their equals altogether. Sophisticated and imaginative, America's Geisha Ally is as delightful to read as it is compelling in its arguments. -- Andrew J. Rotter, Colgate University An unusually interesting book that traces the parallel transformations of Japan and the United States after their long war. As the American occupation personnel were teaching the defeated Japanese how to reform their ways, the American people also were learning, through their occupation experiences, how to become racially tolerant, liberal "world citizens." A major addition to the literature on post-1945 U.S. and international history. -- Akira Iriye, Harvard University A significant contribution to both American cultural history and international relations. As she shows Americans' use of hierarchical notions of gender and maturity to "re-imagine Japan," Shibusawa never lets the reader forget that such public ideologies play critical roles in American foreign relations. -- Beth Bailey, Temple University
Naoko Shibusawa is Associate Professor of History at Brown University.
America's Geisha Ally is a rarity: a sophisticated historical study
that combines theory, archival research, and literary grace.
Insightful and highly original, the book shows how popular culture
reshaped the samurai and kamikaze villain into the innocent and
seductive geisha and "oriental" child of the western imagination.
How Americans came to terms with their victory over Japan is a
marvelous counterpart to the literature on how postwar Japan came
to terms with defeat.
*Michael Schaller, University of Arizona*
A wonderfully compelling history that demonstrates the historical,
political, and moral complexities of Cold War liberalism. The book
builds a much-needed bridge between U.S. history, Japanese history,
and Asian American history.
*Mari Yoshihara, University of Hawaii*
This superb book shows how ideas about gender and maturity allowed
Americans to reconstruct the Japanese as well-intentioned and
cooperative, if not their equals altogether. Sophisticated and
imaginative, America's Geisha Ally is as delightful to read as it
is compelling in its arguments.
*Andrew J. Rotter, Colgate University*
An unusually interesting book that traces the parallel
transformations of Japan and the United States after their long
war. As the American occupation personnel were teaching the
defeated Japanese how to reform their ways, the American people
also were learning, through their occupation experiences, how to
become racially tolerant, liberal "world citizens." A major
addition to the literature on post-1945 U.S. and international
history.
*Akira Iriye, Harvard University*
A significant contribution to both American cultural history and
international relations. As she shows Americans' use of
hierarchical notions of gender and maturity to "re-imagine Japan,"
Shibusawa never lets the reader forget that such public ideologies
play critical roles in American foreign relations.
*Beth Bailey, Temple University*
Naoko Shibusawa, assistant professor of history at Brown
University, has written an entertaining and erudite account...of
the evolution of American views of Japan in the years following
Japan's surrender in August 1945...I wholeheartedly recommend this
book to specialists and nonspecialists alike. Shibusawa's training
in U.S. history, not only intellectual history but popular culture,
enables her to offer insights into the process by which Americans
reconceived a hated racial foe into an eager pupil in need of
paternalistic tutoring.
*Asahi Weekly*
An entertaining and erudite account (a rare combination!) of the
evolution of American views of Japan in the years following Japa''s
surrender in August 1945...Shibusawa's sparkling prose makes
America's Geisha Ally a fun and enlightening read.
*Asahi Weekly*
Naoko Shibusawa has written an entertaining and erudite account (a
rare combination!) of the evolution of American views of Japan in
the years following Japan's surrender in August 1945...Shibusawa's
sparkling prose makes America's Geisha Ally a fun and enlightening
read.
*Asahi Shimbun*
Shibusawa provides a fascinating account of how the U.S. image of
the Japanese in the decades after 1945 underwent a remarkable
change from hated enemy to valuable ally needing guidance towards
democracy...[A] sophisticated cultural history.
*Choice*
Ingeniously combines social history and domestic history by
discussing how American citizens contributed to the process of
incorporating Japan into the US-led liberal capitalist framework in
the years immediately after the Second World War. By analyzing a
range of cultural texts, this book provides a nuanced understanding
of the ways in which postwar ideologies in the United States
supported American foreign policy.
*Journal of American Studies*
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