From LeMay to Trump: the Dangerous Persistence of a “Peace Through Strength” Mentality

From LeMay to Trump: The Dangerous Persistence of a “Peace Through Strength” Mentality

The US military leader Curtis LeMay directed air raids that killed hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians during the final days of World War II. Despite this, the Japanese government honored him in the postwar years. A recent book on LeMay reveals that his approach to conflict remains influential today, posing modern threats.

About the Author

The author is a translator and scholar of American literature, teaching at Gakushūin University. Holding master’s degrees from the University of Tokyo and Brown University, they have translated works by notable American authors such as Ta-Nehisi Coates, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Harper Lee. Their book Curtis LeMay: The Man Who Led the Great Tokyo Air Raid was published in February 2025.

Curtis LeMay’s Military Actions

Curtis LeMay (1906–1990) was responsible for numerous air raids on Japanese cities during World War II. Most notably, he supervised the March 10, 1945, Great Tokyo Air Raid when he was a major general in the United States Army Air Forces.

The Great Tokyo Air Raid

Also called Operation Meetinghouse, this raid resulted in the deaths of about 100,000 civilians and devastated Tokyo, effectively burning the city to the ground. The scale and impact of the attack have been described as genocidal against the Japanese people.

"Tokyo burned to the ground following the March 1945 Great Tokyo Air Raid."

LeMay’s enduring philosophy of “peace through strength” remains a powerful and dangerous influence in current geopolitics.

Author’s summary: Curtis LeMay’s brutal wartime tactics and their legacy illustrate how aggressive military strategies continue to shape global power dynamics with potentially grave consequences.

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nippon.com — 2025-11-07