Both Cribb and Narangoa have written extensively on Asia in the first half of the twentieth century

Although Japan is the only country whose name appears in the title, the book is of general relevance to East, Southeast, Inner and to some extent South Asian Studies

Controversial, it places the emphasis on Japan's unreliability as an ally to Asian nationalists

Broad academic audience, the book is suitable for undergraduates as well as postgraduate students, principally in Asian Studies but also relevant to the study of history, identities and imperialism