David Fedman
@dfeds.bsky.social
historian of japan/korea/the environment | words: davidfedman.org | digital archive: JapanAirRaids.org | film: https://papercityfilm.com/
Fascinating exchange on Japan's support of US bombing operations in Vietnam between Mori Motojirō/Hanyū Sanshichi of the Socialist Party, PM Satō Eisaku, and FM Shiina Etsusaburō at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Councilors on July 16, 1966
"The destruction of cities is too much"
"The destruction of cities is too much"
November 13, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Fascinating exchange on Japan's support of US bombing operations in Vietnam between Mori Motojirō/Hanyū Sanshichi of the Socialist Party, PM Satō Eisaku, and FM Shiina Etsusaburō at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Councilors on July 16, 1966
"The destruction of cities is too much"
"The destruction of cities is too much"
another darling bites the dust
November 7, 2025 at 1:21 AM
another darling bites the dust
The most major of Edo's many conflagrations
October 29, 2025 at 4:52 AM
The most major of Edo's many conflagrations
Air raids were so disruptive in 1945 Japan that they began to hamper breast milk production in new moms. Demand for formula surged, prompting the state to launch "breast milk production" inspections to ensure women weren't falsely claiming need
From our chapter on motherhood under falling bombs:
From our chapter on motherhood under falling bombs:
October 28, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Air raids were so disruptive in 1945 Japan that they began to hamper breast milk production in new moms. Demand for formula surged, prompting the state to launch "breast milk production" inspections to ensure women weren't falsely claiming need
From our chapter on motherhood under falling bombs:
From our chapter on motherhood under falling bombs:
A cartoon from 1941 ridiculing American efforts to project air power -- the stuff of carriers -- from the rugged reaches of China
October 27, 2025 at 10:31 PM
A cartoon from 1941 ridiculing American efforts to project air power -- the stuff of carriers -- from the rugged reaches of China
"Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," a Japanese cartoon (ca 1943) mocking their fallen adversaries in the skies.
"What a strange grave this is.”
“Well, yes, it’s because it belongs to an airman who dove straight down and crashed.”
"What a strange grave this is.”
“Well, yes, it’s because it belongs to an airman who dove straight down and crashed.”
October 23, 2025 at 4:51 AM
"Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," a Japanese cartoon (ca 1943) mocking their fallen adversaries in the skies.
"What a strange grave this is.”
“Well, yes, it’s because it belongs to an airman who dove straight down and crashed.”
"What a strange grave this is.”
“Well, yes, it’s because it belongs to an airman who dove straight down and crashed.”
There are few books I've more eagerly anticipated than Andy Bernstein's magisterial new biography of Mt. Fuji.
Ten plus years in the making, its now out in the world.
I had the chance to read the entire manuscript and, friends, it's a stunner. See for yourself:
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Ten plus years in the making, its now out in the world.
I had the chance to read the entire manuscript and, friends, it's a stunner. See for yourself:
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
October 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
There are few books I've more eagerly anticipated than Andy Bernstein's magisterial new biography of Mt. Fuji.
Ten plus years in the making, its now out in the world.
I had the chance to read the entire manuscript and, friends, it's a stunner. See for yourself:
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Ten plus years in the making, its now out in the world.
I had the chance to read the entire manuscript and, friends, it's a stunner. See for yourself:
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
TIL Irokawa Daikichi and Ueno Chizuko - 2 of the most creative intellectuals of their generations, IMO - were married for a sum total of 15 hrs
They wed on Irokawa's deathbed. To ease Ueno's handling of posthumous affairs, Irokawa agreed to change his name. His death certificate reads Ueno Daikichi
They wed on Irokawa's deathbed. To ease Ueno's handling of posthumous affairs, Irokawa agreed to change his name. His death certificate reads Ueno Daikichi
October 20, 2025 at 4:30 AM
TIL Irokawa Daikichi and Ueno Chizuko - 2 of the most creative intellectuals of their generations, IMO - were married for a sum total of 15 hrs
They wed on Irokawa's deathbed. To ease Ueno's handling of posthumous affairs, Irokawa agreed to change his name. His death certificate reads Ueno Daikichi
They wed on Irokawa's deathbed. To ease Ueno's handling of posthumous affairs, Irokawa agreed to change his name. His death certificate reads Ueno Daikichi
Excited to dig into Hannah Shepherd's new book, out in December from UC Press:
www.ucpress.edu/books/the-na...
www.ucpress.edu/books/the-na...
October 17, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Excited to dig into Hannah Shepherd's new book, out in December from UC Press:
www.ucpress.edu/books/the-na...
www.ucpress.edu/books/the-na...
A fascinating amalgam of religion and geopolitics in this 1943 Japanese propaganda cartoon depicting Chandra Bose as the Fudō Myōō, the Buddhist guardian deity known as the “Immovable One,” protector of the Dharma and destroyer of evil
October 17, 2025 at 5:31 AM
A fascinating amalgam of religion and geopolitics in this 1943 Japanese propaganda cartoon depicting Chandra Bose as the Fudō Myōō, the Buddhist guardian deity known as the “Immovable One,” protector of the Dharma and destroyer of evil
In 1941, in response to complaints that Japan's air defense fire-fighting drills were poor simulations of the real thing, the Home Ministry held a new exercise with staged fires that pushed Tokyoites to their limits
The results were fatal. 15 died in the drills👇, casualties of bureaucratic delusion
The results were fatal. 15 died in the drills👇, casualties of bureaucratic delusion
October 16, 2025 at 9:43 PM
In 1941, in response to complaints that Japan's air defense fire-fighting drills were poor simulations of the real thing, the Home Ministry held a new exercise with staged fires that pushed Tokyoites to their limits
The results were fatal. 15 died in the drills👇, casualties of bureaucratic delusion
The results were fatal. 15 died in the drills👇, casualties of bureaucratic delusion
A Japanese "science warrior" rampages through NYC (in Oct. 1943), blending healthy doses of tradition, modernity, and delusion
October 16, 2025 at 5:39 AM
A Japanese "science warrior" rampages through NYC (in Oct. 1943), blending healthy doses of tradition, modernity, and delusion
A Japanese cartoon from Oct. 1941, ridiculing Londoners during the Blitz
"Don't worry," reads the caption, dripping in sarcasm, "We are blessed with an abundance of supplies."
"Don't worry," reads the caption, dripping in sarcasm, "We are blessed with an abundance of supplies."
October 15, 2025 at 11:28 PM
A Japanese cartoon from Oct. 1941, ridiculing Londoners during the Blitz
"Don't worry," reads the caption, dripping in sarcasm, "We are blessed with an abundance of supplies."
"Don't worry," reads the caption, dripping in sarcasm, "We are blessed with an abundance of supplies."
What's that? A manufactured crisis used as pretext to impose military rule over urban areas, you say?
A snapshot from Showa Japan:
A snapshot from Showa Japan:
October 15, 2025 at 8:48 PM
What's that? A manufactured crisis used as pretext to impose military rule over urban areas, you say?
A snapshot from Showa Japan:
A snapshot from Showa Japan:
"The Fierce Military Record of Vice Presidential Candidate LeMay" Maru magazine, January 1969
October 15, 2025 at 4:15 AM
"The Fierce Military Record of Vice Presidential Candidate LeMay" Maru magazine, January 1969
fascinating infographic comparing the five major fire raids on Tokyo in 1945
pretty staggering leap in terms of the tons of incendiaries expended in those late May raids!
pretty staggering leap in terms of the tons of incendiaries expended in those late May raids!
October 12, 2025 at 11:15 PM
fascinating infographic comparing the five major fire raids on Tokyo in 1945
pretty staggering leap in terms of the tons of incendiaries expended in those late May raids!
pretty staggering leap in terms of the tons of incendiaries expended in those late May raids!
A cartoonists take on Tibbets in the Asahi newspaper three days after the reenactment
October 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
A cartoonists take on Tibbets in the Asahi newspaper three days after the reenactment
morning calisthenics in the scorched earth of Tokyo, early June 1945
October 10, 2025 at 6:43 AM
morning calisthenics in the scorched earth of Tokyo, early June 1945
So much gold to be mined from the diary of Harada Ryōji 原田良次, a maintenance tech in a Chiba-based aerial interception unit tasked with defending Tokyo's skies
His entries are scribbled in the margins of a book 👇 - in part due to paper shortages, in part to keep record on the sly
A few stand-outs:
His entries are scribbled in the margins of a book 👇 - in part due to paper shortages, in part to keep record on the sly
A few stand-outs:
October 8, 2025 at 7:52 PM
So much gold to be mined from the diary of Harada Ryōji 原田良次, a maintenance tech in a Chiba-based aerial interception unit tasked with defending Tokyo's skies
His entries are scribbled in the margins of a book 👇 - in part due to paper shortages, in part to keep record on the sly
A few stand-outs:
His entries are scribbled in the margins of a book 👇 - in part due to paper shortages, in part to keep record on the sly
A few stand-outs:
a graph of changes in the bombing altitude of the major B-29 operations against Japan, starting with high-altitude raids on the Nakajima aircraft plant and ending with 16th and final four-city fire raid on Aug. 14
October 5, 2025 at 5:35 AM
a graph of changes in the bombing altitude of the major B-29 operations against Japan, starting with high-altitude raids on the Nakajima aircraft plant and ending with 16th and final four-city fire raid on Aug. 14
timeline cleanse for anyone who needs one:
i just had the time of my life surprising my four-year-old by bringing her beloved stuffed animal to life
i just had the time of my life surprising my four-year-old by bringing her beloved stuffed animal to life
October 3, 2025 at 12:05 AM
timeline cleanse for anyone who needs one:
i just had the time of my life surprising my four-year-old by bringing her beloved stuffed animal to life
i just had the time of my life surprising my four-year-old by bringing her beloved stuffed animal to life
this is our new addition, in all her glory -- Honey girl
October 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
this is our new addition, in all her glory -- Honey girl
Now that, friends, is how you get my attention in an email subject line
October 1, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Now that, friends, is how you get my attention in an email subject line
this Yomiuri headline, "No Changes Needed in Air Defense System," jumps to stratospheric heights of delusion when you consider its date: August 10, 1945
September 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM
this Yomiuri headline, "No Changes Needed in Air Defense System," jumps to stratospheric heights of delusion when you consider its date: August 10, 1945
Quite a day to come across these lines in a speech delivered by Hap Arnold, head of the Army Air Forces on August 1, 1945 -- the inaugural celebration of Air Force Day
Even amidst the triumphant celebration of the AAF's 38th birthday, with victory over Japan weeks away, he recognized this core fact
Even amidst the triumphant celebration of the AAF's 38th birthday, with victory over Japan weeks away, he recognized this core fact
September 30, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Quite a day to come across these lines in a speech delivered by Hap Arnold, head of the Army Air Forces on August 1, 1945 -- the inaugural celebration of Air Force Day
Even amidst the triumphant celebration of the AAF's 38th birthday, with victory over Japan weeks away, he recognized this core fact
Even amidst the triumphant celebration of the AAF's 38th birthday, with victory over Japan weeks away, he recognized this core fact