Defending The Enemy
Justice For The WWII Japanese War Criminals
By: Elaine Fischel
Published: December 2009
Format: Paperback, 412 pages
ISBN: 978-1-935456-03-2
Publisher: Bascom Hill Publishing Group
"This is simply my story written with the hope it will bring more understanding of why American lawyers defended the leaders of their most recent enemy - Japan", writes former legal secretary for the defense during the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) Elaine Fischel, in her riveting and landmark eye witness account of the trials of alleged Japanese war criminals, Defending The Enemy: Justice For The WWII Japanese War Criminals. The author brings all of the participants to life, in a little known but important area of international law and history.
Elaine Fischel began, like many Americans upon their nation's entry into World War Two, with an intense dislike of Japan, the country's leadership, and of the Japanese people. As the war deepened, she heard of atrocities committed by the Japanese forces against Allied troops and civilians. As a result, she admits openly in the book that she set out to Japan believing the Japanese people were evil and even perhaps subhuman. Her stay in Japan, as part of the IMTFE judicial team, and her introduction to the people of Japan, changed her mind and outlook forever. As she became more intensively involved in the judicial proceedings, Elaine Fischel formed many friendships in Japan, and even with those who were charged with war crimes.
Elaine Fischel (photo left) not only formed deep and lasting friendships with the accused who she refers to as "enemy friends", but she saw many of them convicted and sentenced to death. Her accounts of her emotions during these events are powerful reminders that forgiveness is an important part of the human experience. At the same time, Elaine Fischel found herself believing ever more strongly in the values of the American legal system. The basic American legal concept that the accused is innocent until proven guilty, became part of the foundation of her lifelong belief in the American justice system. She also points out the profound idea, that the exposure of the Japanese people to the best of the American legal procedures and attorneys, helped pave the way for Japan's return to the family of nations.
For me, the power of the book is the author's first hand account of the trials, and of her growing friendships with her "enemy friends". Her understanding of the inner goodness of the Japanese leaders despite their being charged with unspeakable crimes, is a testament to the power of the human spirit. If Elaine Fischel was able to forgive the person, if not the crime, is evidence of the goodness of humanity. Instead of vengeance, the Tribunal set out to give every defendant a fair and open trial. While there were various members of the Tribunal who didn't always live up to the ideal of the legal system, Elaine Fischel describes how the system did achieve most of its goals. The author provides vivid portrayals of all of the most prominent members of the legal community, as well as personal accounts of the many defendants in the trials.
I highly recommend the powerful and must read book Defending The Enemy: Justice For The WWII Japanese War Criminals by Elaine Fischel, to anyone seeking a deeper and more personal understanding of the little known trials of Japanese war criminals following the end of the Second World War. The story told by Elaine Fischel is also one of realization that justice is important for everyone, and that all people are entitled to legal representation in court. That recognition of the power of the basic right of everyone to a fair trial, is especially critical, when the defendant faces charges of committing the most horrific of acts.
Read the crucial first hand account of history as it unfolded Defending The Enemy: Justice For The WWII Japanese War Criminals by Elaine Fischel, and discover that the spark of humanity still shines, even in those people accused of the most horrendous crimes. Share with the author the joys of friendships, and join in the sorrow of watching friends tried, often convicted, and sentenced to be hanged. This deeply moving book, and its lasting tribute to the importance of justice for all, is not to be missed.
