Of course it will work. Japan is one of the most technologically savvy and advanced nation and very dependent on mobile cell phone usage. Maybe even more so than the west.
I believe you can for the most part. I've used my phone on the shinkansen. But if I remember correctly, the reception came and went really quickly because the train is moving so fast the cell stations can't keep up.
Also if you are heading from osaka towards kyushu, there are tons and tons of tunnels along that stretch. Osaka to Tokyo only a couple of tunnels.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.