This book, first published in 1968, provides a fascinating insight into the monumental struggle faced by the principal movers and shakers in Japan in those days between the two atomic bombs in August 1945, and the days immediately after Nagasaki.

The word "surrender" was virtual anathema to the rigid mindset of the military hierarchy. Here you'll read about how more pragmatic minds such as Marquis Koichi Kido, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hisatune Sakomizu, Prime Minister Admiral Baron Kantaro Suzuki, Admiral Mitsumasa Yonai, and, yes, Emperor Hirohito, struggled - at the risk of their lives - to get their country to accept the terms of The Potsdam Conference.

Lined up against them were the iron wills of militarists such as War Minister General Korechika Anami, Colonel Okikatsu Arao, Chief of Army Affairs Section, Lt. Col. Masataka Ida, Lt. Col. Masao Inaba, and Lieut.-General Sanji Okido, commander of the dreaded kempetai - among others.

Author Brooks, who was in Japan immediately after the surrender, takes you right into the conference rooms as these principals meet time after time to thrash out Japan's options, with the hardliners saying, a-bombs be damned, they wished to fight one final titanic battle on their home shores, regardless of the cost.

All those favouring surrender, however, wished only to guarantee the continuance of the emperor system.

With a Foreword by the son-in-law of Foreign Minister Togo, Fumihiko Togo, who served as his father-in-law's secretary in 1945, and several photographs of the Royal Family and principals, this is utterly fascinating. Get a copy while you can.