The most complete autobiography of Yoshida Shigeru (1878-1967) available in English, this expanded translation of his memoirs traces the remarkable life and times of one of Japan's most powerful figures. A career diplomat who shaped Japan's China policy and worked with Europe's most influential leaders in the first half of the century, Yoshida returned to politics to rebuild Japan as a five-time prime minister after the devastation of World War II. Sandwiched between Japan's interests and major reforms advanced by MacArthur's occupation forces, Yoshida boldly pushed through the essential reforms that laid the foundation for his country's reentry into the global community. Richly laced with historical and personal detail, this book will be essential reading for anyone interested in twentieth-century Japan.

Translated by: Kenichi Yoshida, Hiroshi Nara