Midway

The Battle That Doomed Japan, the Japanese Navy's Story

By: Mitsuo Fuchida, Masatake Okumiya

Narrated by: Terence Aselford

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

This landmark study was first published in English by the Naval Institute in 1955. Widely acknowledged for its valuable Japanese insights into the battle that turned the tide of war in the Pacific, the book has made a great impact on American readers over the years. Two Japanese naval aviators who participated in the operation provide an unsparing analysis of what caused Japan's staggering defeat.

Mitsuo Fuchida, who led the first air strike on Pearl Harbor, commanded the Akagi carrier air group and later made a study of the battle at the Japanese Naval War College. Masatake Okumiya, one of Japan's first dive-bomber pilots, was aboard the light carrier Ryujo and later served as a staff officer in a carrier division. Armed with knowledge of top-secret documents destroyed by the Japanese and access to private papers, they show the operation to be ill-conceived and poorly planned and executed, and fault their flag officers for lacking initiative, leadership, and clear thinking. With an introduction by an author known for his study of the battle from the American perspective, the work continues to make a significant contribution to World War II literature.

©1955, 1992 U.S. Naval Institute (P)2004 Naval Institute Press

Critic reviews

"Midway gives an enlightening account of the Japanese naval leaders of the time, placing a new perspective on their abilities, shortcomings, and their ways of thinking and acting." (Military Review)
"Captain Fuchida's and Commander Okumiya's clear style should satisfy both the casual [listener] and the naval strategist." (Baltimore Sun)

Edge of your seat history

This Japanese point of view of the battle of Midway is well written and edited. The reader is excellent in voice and tone. He brings out the excitement of the battle easily. The authors also give a nice history of Pearl Harbour and the reasons for the attack.

The low tech of WWII is interesting in light of today's smart bombs and cruise missles. The air war was waged with cross hair bomb sites and seat-of-your-pants luck. Used to watching the video of a smart bomb drop into the smokestack of the bad guys' bunker, I was greatly disturbed and irritated by the many misses of the pilots who dropped their bombs and torpedos ineffectively at Midway only to die in the attempt. What's clear though is that guiding your dive bomber through a shower of high caliber lead and keeping your concentration is unfathomable to anyone who has not been in combat.

The arrogance and hide-bound traditions of the Japanese were a part of their downfall at Midway, but there was an ample amount of bad luck, always an undervalued element of war. The battle could have gone the other way but for the outcome of seemly minor events.

It's apparent in this account of Midway that the loss of life was not simply the removal of so many pieces from the battle maps but the loss of human beings with friends, family, and loyal shipmates. The Japanese are human too, whatever your evaluation of their motives. These sailors went to war for a cause they thought was just, fighting a foe whose resolve was just as determined. In the end the book is about the stupidity and pathos of armed conflict. Midway was the turning point of the war in the Pacific. At Midway Japan was severely beaten and never recovered, yet slogged on for three more years all for the glory of an the god-emperor who, later during the American occupation of the home island, confessed to his people that he and his ancestors were not divine. In essence he was saying that, if you fought for the me, you fought for nothing.

Necessary for students of World War II

Would you listen to Midway again? Why?

I have not read historial/military reports of these vital WW II battles from the Japanese perspective. This was reasonable and without too much defensiveness. I really enjoyed seeing the 'other side' and would like to read/hear more stories of battles especially written by high ranking officers of the 'other side'.

she's new light on that battle.

I thought I knew history but looking at the battle from both view points was an eye opening experience. Was like a movie for my ears

Great Classic!

Very intriguing. Want to learn more about the war in the Pacific.

download this

Fantastic book. If you like ww2 stuff! dload this. takes about half an hour to warm to it then it gets you and you are hooked till the end.

Japan story of Midway

Very good and probing story about a confident Japan and victory desease. They could not believe that there plan was not going the way they laid it out. Naration was very good and a must read for people who love pacific world war II history.

Japanese perspective and reflection

This was an easy listen and read if you have the soft back. I enjoyed the authors take on what it was like from the enemy side. Also, his after action analysis of the Japanese culture and thinking of the time is very interesting.

One of the few views from someone directly involve

The author was deeply involved in Japanese Naval Aviation in WW 2. He describes not only the Battle of Midway, but also the strategy, and even more interesting the reasons for the strategy, in their Naval doctrine and tactics.

He also tells, and shows through the examples in this case, the saying that I have seen in many places, that war is a catalog of blunders (Winston Churchill.)

Enlightening History

A rigorous analysis of Japanese war planning and hubris from the outset to the end of hostilities. The authors do not mince words about the failures of top leadership that led to to the defeat in the Battle of Midway.

Unusual perspective

A fascinating look behind the scenes at one of the greatest naval battles in history from a point of view not often heard. A fantastic read for any WW2 history buff!