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)

Must read

A must read for anyone who likes reading about WWll. Found the book precise and to the point.

Fascinating

To hear the story from the Japanese side, though told with great respect, was really worthwhile. This is a mix of memoir and personal experience as well as history. The narration is very good as well.

Good history

Midway was the battle in which the US sank all three Japanese air craft carriers, effectively making the remainder of WWII in the Pacific a lopsided war in favor of the US. It was a fascinating battle of "cat and mouse" tactics. The US totally out-smarted the Japanese through code breaking, and through a heavier investment in aerial reconnaissance missions to find the enemy carriers.

Had this battle gone the other way, WWII would have lasted a heck of a lot longer and it would have had a different trajectory. Every American should understand Midway! And every American should remember this history and be thankful to its veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This was a good history of Midway from the Japanese perspective. I especially liked the author's commentary on how he viewed Japan's "inferiority" feelings prior to Pearl Harbor and how he acknowledged the hubris of the Japanese high command for its mis-steps in this pivotal WWII Pacific battle.

Much better thsn a second audiblr book on Midway.

Much better than the other audible book on Midway. This one reflects the Japaneses description of thd conflict. Put you biases aside and listen to this version on Midway WWII.

Among the very best about war in the Pacific!

Thorough and insightful portrayal of why Japan was doomed to lose the war. Highly recommend!

the other side

Any additional comments?

This is the first book that i have read written for the side of japan. I learned much for it.

Great book from IJN point of view.

This was a great book from the Japanese point of view, which not only tells their story but anylises each naval maneuver. I highly recommend this book, I can and listen to this a few more times.

An amazing view of Midway

An amazing view from the Japanese side of not just Midway, but the road to World War II & Japan's aspects on the war and campaigns is an amazing narrative by men who fought thru it.... I greatly enjoyed it.

From the Man who lead the attack on Pearl Harbor!

If you could sum up Midway in three words, what would they be?

Great Interesting Read ! I found this book written as well as Temechi Hara's Destroyer Captain. First he gives some new insghts into the attack on Pearl Harbor,he was in charge of the entire Air Group, Then he goes into all the mistakes made from the Japanese point of view at 'Midway".

What did you like best about this story?

Gives Complete details on Midway. For many who have read other books on Midway, some of this you have heard before, but he also gives many insights, what went so terribly wrong.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

SAD, For the most part, these were just kids on both sides. AS the saying goes, Old Men thump their chest and decide to war, but the actual fighting is done by the youth, Most were between 16 to 23 on Japan side, US Fliers Average 23 to 28.,, again just an average.

Any additional comments?

So much waste in war, nothing new to most of us there. Somehow I kept hearing LBJ say in 1964 &quote; ""I will not send American Boys overseas to fight someone else's Battle"". Those of us from that generation know how that turned out....Terrible Tour into Vietnam..

. WWll, was started over :OIL.. Japan went into China for raw materials and Dutch East indies's. FDR, along with the British &and the Dutch, cut off Japan from Oil.. Japan thought is they could wipe-out the US Fleet at Midway, Roosevelt might then be willing to suit-for-Peace and end the war. The author goes into what mistakes, all Japan's in this battle, and has Harsh words for Admiral Yamamoto and others. If WW2 History is of interest, you will enjoy this work given from the Japanese side.

great book

Provides much insight into the Japanese version of the battle
Good narrator clear understanding of the words