Japan's defeat was seen as a relief for some Japanese citizens and hard to swallow for others. Some individuals were even ready to kill their entire family and commit suicide after learning of Japan's defeat. Japanese citizens, especially in Manchuria, faced hostility from the Russians, Koreans, and Americans who came to occupy parts of Japan. Japan's defeat brought humiliation for which the country was not prepared. After World War II, the imperial government ended, ushering in a new era of peace in Japan. The Pacific War was extremely interesting to read and it was well written. It covered the Fifteen Years' War in a way that was understandable and engaged the reader. Ienage's main argument throughout his book was that Imperial Japan was capable of causing so much damage in the Pacific theater because of its strict control of civilian life. He gives clear examples of this by examining control of the media, public schools, and the military. Ienage also does a remarkable job providing an analytical perspective on Japanese.