Takashi YoshidaThe Making of the "Rape of Nanking": History and Memory in Japan, China, and the United States (Studies of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University)

I used this book for school, and it was in clean condition with no markings, writing, or highlighting. I appreciate that.

Contrary to what the lazy misreaders of this book have suggested here, this is not a whitewashing or denial of the Nanjing Massacre. They either didn't really read it or read it with filters on. It is a detailed contextualized study of how the event entered into and out of and back into public media and textbooks in Japan, China, and the US from the time of its happening to the present day. As such, it is a well-researched and well-argued book that goes a long way to explaining why there are different perceptions in different places at different times. The negative reviewers apparently do not understand the subject matter of the book -- the reportage of the Nanjing Massacre in public media, memory, and textbooks, etc. over time in very different contexts. Maybe that is too "meta" for them. Whatever. In any case, it is a great example of the malleability of history when it is put to the service of different political presents--and I say that as a professional historian.

This is a rational, lucid exploration of the way the Nanking incident has been treated in China, Japan, and the United States. The author has managed to avoid outright denial, raging indignation and smug Japan bashing while dissecting all three. Truly unique. It is unfortunate that this book is not more widely available.Anyone who wishes to explore this topic will find this short book a very good place to begin.

Interesting book, opened my eyes to another side of pre-WWII Japan. Author is fairly unbiased and presents both sides of the arguments from 3 different countries. Good Asian history book