October 2, 2024
Judgment at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia
Gary Bass
Professor of Politics and World Affairs,
Princeton University, author of Judgment at Tokyo
Judgment at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia
Gary Bass
Professor of Politics and World Affairs,
Princeton University, author of Judgment at Tokyo
Minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the 83rd Year
George Bustin, Old Guard president, called the meeting to order and presided. Frances Slade led the invocation. Julianne Elward-Berry read the meetings of the prior September 25 meeting. Attendance at Springdale Golf Club was 115. There were two signed-in guests: Dennis Recca (guest of George Bustin) and Jeanne Mazzetti (guest of Joe Mazzetti).
President George Bustin reported that a great majority of members have paid dues and requested any dues outstanding be settled before Oct. 17, after which the dues rate increases to $150. Questions about dues can be directed to David Long or Bill Katen-Narvell, who are available to collect checks or assist with credit card payment. Checks can also be turned in at meetings.
Our speaker next week will be Coleen Murphy, Professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton and Director of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for Aging Research, speaking on her new book.
George Bustin introduced the speaker, Professor Gary Bass. The title of his talk was “Judgment at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia.” Prof. Bass is the William P. Boswell Professor of World Politics of Peace and War at Princeton University and the author of many books, including the recent best-seller Judgment at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia.
Professor Bass spoke about the political context and the history of the Tokyo war trials following the conclusion of the Second World War in the Pacific, and their continuing impact on geopolitical developments in East Asia and beyond. He contrasted the often skeptical, conservative public opinion in Japan concerning the war trials of senior Japanese military and political leaders with the more accepting public attitude in Germany toward the better-known Nuremberg trials of Nazi leaders that followed the end of the war in Europe. Professor Bass highlighted the attitudes of a number of the judges on the Tokyo tribunal, especially the Chinese and Indian judges, who, as representatives of Asian peoples subjected to Japanese aggression, nevertheless reached very different conclusions regarding the alleged war crimes and the legitimacy of the court’s decision to hold individuals criminally liable for them.
An excellent summary of Professor Bass’s talk and of the book can be found in his December 21, 2023, Guest Essay in the New York Times, “75 Years Later, Asia’s Wartime Memories Linger”:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/opinion/tokyo-war-crimes-75-anniversary.html
As well, interested members may purchase Professor Bass’s book from Labyrinth Books:
https://www.labyrinthbooks.com/product/9781101971079
or from another retailer.
Respectfully submitted,
Ronald Schnur
President George Bustin reported that a great majority of members have paid dues and requested any dues outstanding be settled before Oct. 17, after which the dues rate increases to $150. Questions about dues can be directed to David Long or Bill Katen-Narvell, who are available to collect checks or assist with credit card payment. Checks can also be turned in at meetings.
Our speaker next week will be Coleen Murphy, Professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton and Director of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for Aging Research, speaking on her new book.
George Bustin introduced the speaker, Professor Gary Bass. The title of his talk was “Judgment at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia.” Prof. Bass is the William P. Boswell Professor of World Politics of Peace and War at Princeton University and the author of many books, including the recent best-seller Judgment at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia.
Professor Bass spoke about the political context and the history of the Tokyo war trials following the conclusion of the Second World War in the Pacific, and their continuing impact on geopolitical developments in East Asia and beyond. He contrasted the often skeptical, conservative public opinion in Japan concerning the war trials of senior Japanese military and political leaders with the more accepting public attitude in Germany toward the better-known Nuremberg trials of Nazi leaders that followed the end of the war in Europe. Professor Bass highlighted the attitudes of a number of the judges on the Tokyo tribunal, especially the Chinese and Indian judges, who, as representatives of Asian peoples subjected to Japanese aggression, nevertheless reached very different conclusions regarding the alleged war crimes and the legitimacy of the court’s decision to hold individuals criminally liable for them.
An excellent summary of Professor Bass’s talk and of the book can be found in his December 21, 2023, Guest Essay in the New York Times, “75 Years Later, Asia’s Wartime Memories Linger”:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/opinion/tokyo-war-crimes-75-anniversary.html
As well, interested members may purchase Professor Bass’s book from Labyrinth Books:
https://www.labyrinthbooks.com/product/9781101971079
or from another retailer.
Respectfully submitted,
Ronald Schnur