This book investigates how Japanese media portrayed World War II from the perspective of the Japanese home front. David C. Earhart, drawing on his extensive collection of wartime Japanese periodicals, reconstructs the government-controlled media's narrative of the war's goals and progress. The book examines Japan's transformation from a cosmopolitan empire in 1937 to a society facing destruction in 1945, revealing how the war was presented to its citizens. Earhart's analysis highlights the consistency of the official narrative, even as defeat loomed, and depicts a government that terrorized its own people while waging war against the world.

This scholarly yet accessible volume offers a unique perspective on World War II through the lens of Japanese wartime media. The author's extensive collection of rare periodicals provides compelling visual and written sources that reveal the official narrative presented to the Japanese home front. The book is noted for its detailed reconstruction of the media's consistent messaging, from initial victories to the brink of defeat, and for its critical insight into the government's dual role in waging external war and internal terror. The illustrations are described as fresh and compelling, offering a poignant and stark glimpse into a forgotten world.