Book excerpt: In Visions of Democracy and Peace in Occupied Japan, Sigal Ben-Rafael Galanti examines American occupation of Japan during World War II and the evolution of Japan’s political parties to highlight the country’s struggles for a democratic and peaceful “Japanese Japan.” Using a dynamic analysis approach, Galanti examines the pre-war, pro-democratic ideals and legacies that built Japan’s political parties and the parties’ evolving views on regime matters, socioeconomic structure, international relations, and security both during and after the country’s occupation by American forces.