Stewart Binns began his professional life as an academic, before becoming a teacher and a soldier. Later in life, he trained at the BBC and began a successful career in television, during which he won many awards, especially for his 'in-colour' documentary series, including a BAFTA for Britain at War'.

Stewart has since published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Barbarossa, the story of the battle for the Eastern Front during the Second World War. Japan's War is his fourteenth book and seventh work of non-fiction.