The illustrated Blog posts on this website focus on U.S. Japan relations and Japanese history.
Katz was a Specialist in Rare Books and Ephemera when he acquired the personal papers of a Master Spy, Colonel Sidney Forrester Mashbir (1891-1973). These fascinating materials, combined with his passion for history and many years of research resulted in the exciting historical novel THE EMPEROR AND THE SPY, followed by a sequel, an illustrated biography titled: THE ART OF PEACE.
The Emperor and the Spy highlights the adventurous life of Colonel Mashbir and reveals his alliance during the 1920s and 1930s with many Japanese leaders, including members of the Japanese Royal Family. These influential Japanese included Prince Tokugawa Iesato (1863-1940) President of Japan’s upper house of congress for thirty years & Baron Shibusawa Eiichi, who is known as the Father of the Modern Japanese Economy. These fine Japanese statesmen blended international diplomacy, art and cultural exchange, as well as business and commerce to bring nations together in friendship.
Colonel Mashbir in his personal writings emphasized:
Prince Tokugawa was the true hidden power behind the Imperial Throne & was so politically influential in supporting democracy and peace, it was only after his death in 1940, that Japan was pressured into joining the Axis Powers in WWII.
In the process of rapidly moving forward towards reconciliation between the U.S. and Japan following that tragic conflict, much of the history of the first four decades of the 1900s were lost or forgotten, with little recognition given to heroic efforts by many Japanese and non-Japanese who strove to prevent that war. Many readers of The Emperor and the Spy wanted to know more about the impressive individuals depicted in the novel and the period they lived, leading to the Prince Tokugawa biography: The Art of Peace.
Praise for The Art of Peace
“Your new biography is the perfect follow on to your historical novel The Emperor and the Spy about Colonel Mashbir, a superlative history that was a fun read, yet it was also eye opening to the story behind the scenes in that critical time of history between the west and Japan. Here is all that anyone who is a serious student of conflict and history of Japan could possibly want. The illustrated version of pure history makes this biography as fun to read as a novel. I enjoyed every chapter. Just as a footnote, I loved the way you ended the book with President Obama’s and Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s speeches – Those words are exactly how all our minds should work in building relationships between peoples that are of different cultures. I am richer in knowledge about all the amazing heretofore unknown to me heroes that you portrayed, especially Prince Tokugawa.
Paul Ringwood U.S. Navy Commander (retired)
“I am very pleased to learn that you have now published ”The Emperor and the Spy”…‘’I have learned a lot about Colonel Mashbir and his real friendship with Prince Iesato Tokugawa which was a pleasant surprise for me.” “I wish you all the best & best of luck on your new book on ‘’Tokugawa Iesato.”
Kazuo Kodama, former Ambassador of Japan to the United Nations / current Ambassador of Japan to the European Union
“This is a really interesting and understudied topic.”
Professor Benjamin Uchiyama, Ph.D. History, University of Southern California
“The importance of preventing war is rarely given recognition through literature and in accounts of history. It can be every bit as exciting as glorified accounts of war and certainly a better approach.”
Professor Claire Langham, former President of the East-West Center of Southern California Chapter, an organization which promotes positive relations among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue.
“We appreciate your kindness and all the work you have done to promote understanding of Shibusawa Eiichi and US-Japan relations as a whole. I wish you all the best in your current and future endeavors.”
With gratitude, Toru Shigehara
Head Librarian/Information Resources Center
Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation
In 2021, the general reader digital edition of THE ART OF PEACE was revised, retitled, and newly published as THE ART OF DIPLOMACY to better represent the broad spectrum of Prince Tokugawa’s achievements.
AVAILABLE IN PRINT AND KINDLE EBOOK EDITION
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