The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) had surprisingly deep respect and sympathy for the US Navy, despite being enemies at sea. The post-war Japan Maritime Self-Defense force (JMSDF) inherited that tradition, and the cooperation between the JMSDF and the US Navy has been the basis of a strong US-Japan alliance. The maritime friendship that has grown between the two navies occupies a unique position among US-Japan relationships. This book portrays, among others, the proud JMSDF officers and sailors who trained diligently prepared themselves to defend Japan, and retired nameless without fighting a single battle, quite unlike the heroes of the IJN.
