I live in the US. I hear about things such as the Rape of Nanking, and a number of other atrocities that were allegedly* committed by the Japanese during WWII. However, I get confused by this because of a Japanese friend of mine. He is normally pretty laid back and very methodical in his work. However, when it comes to war crimes the Japanese are accused of committing, especially in Korea and China, it's like a switch flips in him and he is suddenly very vehemently protesting it as all disgusting, made-up lies.

I suspect there is some deeply ingrained nationalist pride for his country that prompts this reaction when that topic is brought up, however, I can't really challenge it one way or the other because about all I know of the Pacific Theatre is: Pearl Harbor sucked and led to Japanese Internment Camps in the US; The Battle of Midway is generally considered the turning point from US being on the defensive to Japan being on the defensive; The atomic bombs were a "necessity" to end the war in a timely manner.

So, I would like to know of good, historical resources that I could use to educate myself about history that was basically never covered in my junior high and high school classes. Details of what went on the Pacific Theatre. Motivations for the parties involved. Atrocities/war crimes committed by all parties involved. As well as how sure we are it happened/how we know it happened. Please help cure my ignorance!

*allegedly because I genuinely can't say that I know enough to say they occurred, or to what extent they occurred.