Books on East-Asian seafaring, 1800s to present

General naval discussions that don't fit within any specific time period or cover several issues.
EasternSeas
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Books on East-Asian seafaring, 1800s to present

Post by EasternSeas »

Hello everyone! I am seeking recommendations for books on the history of seafaring by East Asian nations (whether naval or civilian) at any point from the Victorian era up to the present day. In particular, any books that contain personal recollections from sailors would be a big bonus, as well as books which are highly illustrated.

Below are some I own, to give you an idea of the kinds of books I'm seeking.

-Through the Dragon's Eyes: Fifty Years' Experiences of a Foreigner in the Chinese Government Service, Constable, 1931. (this book contains several chapters that provide a rare "on deck" look at the Chinese navy during the late Qing period, written by an American who served as a foreign volunteer in the Chinese navy during the Sino-French War. This man also spent time working for the Chinese maritime customs service, and he provides accounts of what that agency was like during the period, including some of the anti-smuggling activities he was involved in.)

-Counterpart: A South Vietnamese Naval Officer's War, Naval Institute Press, 1998. (this book is a recollection by an officer in the South Vietnamese Navy about his experiences during the Vietnam War and the subsequent American withdrawal)

-The Chinese Steam Navy 1862-1945, Naval Institute Press, 2000. (this book covers the transition of the Chinese navy from sail to steam, and continues up to the close of WW2. Includes period photos, technical drawings, explanations of ships and their service, as well as the histories of the shipyards that built them and some of the personnel involved.)

-Sino-French Naval War 1884-1885, Mushroom Model Publications, 2012. (This book covers the naval side of the Sino-French War, and is both highly-illustrated and provides a look at the condition and strategy of the Chinese navy at the time.)

-Japanese Destroyer Captain: Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Midway - The Great Naval Battles as Seen Through Japanese Eyes, Naval Institute Press, 2011. (as the title suggests, this book is a memoir of an IJN officer who served on destroyers during WW2)

-In Action With the Japanese Navy: Two Personal Accounts of the War at Sea During the Russo-Japanese War, LEONAUR, 2017. (this book is split in two parts, the first is a memoir of an IJN officer, and the second is from a western reporter who was aboard IJN vessels during this conflict)