Published this week in the U.S. by Harper Collins (no one in Japan has yet agreed to translate and publish the work), Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan relies on diaries, memoirs and war-era documents that have been unearthed in Japan since the Emperor died in 1989.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Lesser Majesty

For example, Britain's defence secretary during the Falklands war, John Nott, revealed in his memoirs that France had been Britain's staunchest ally, providing information that helped to render the Exocet anti-ship missiles used by Argentina ineffective, and supplying Mirage and Super-Etendard fighters for British Harrier pilots to pit themselves against in training.

ECONOMIST: The Anglo-French defence pact